Police Blotter: Woman Distracts Elderly Homeowner While Accomplice Steals Cash

are looking for two people who distracted an unsuspecting 91-year-old homeowner under the guise of being landscapers and then made off with an undetermined amount of cash and a coin collection from his home. 

Police responded to a burglary report at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the 800 block of Nevin Ave., where a homeowner reported he had just been scammed by a couple claiming to be landscapers.

Police said about 15 minutes earlier, a man knocked at the door claiming to be performing landscaping work in the area. Police said the man had a thick Italian accent and the homeowner had a hard time understanding him.

A female who was with the man began talking about landscaping activities and guided the homeowner to a chair at the far end of the porch, pointing it away from the door down Nevin Avenue. Meanwhile, the man left the porch and a neighbor saw him walking down some steps at the home carrying two plastic bags that appeared to be heavy, police said. 

The man placed the bags in a white GMC sport utility vehicle and got inside, police said. The woman left the porch and, before leaving, asked the neighbor if he needed any yard work done. The couple then left the area, police said.

The neighbor asked the homeowner if he had let anyone into his home, to which he replied that he hadn't. The two went inside and found a bank envelope had been torn open and an undetermined amount of money missing. A coin collection of various mint and proof coin sets and various other old coins that had been stored in plastic bins was also gone, police said.

Allegheny County Police were notified and have collected evidence. 

The male suspect is described as a white man, about 35 years old, thin build, more than 6 feet tall, and wearing a baseball cap and green jacket.

The female is described as a heavy-set white woman, about 5-foot-2, mid-20s, brown hair, wearing dark brown sweat pants, a baseball cap and sunglasses.

Police said the pair used walkie-talkies to communicate withone another. Their vehicle is described as a new-model pearl white GMC SUV with chrome wheels.

Sewickley Police also responded to the following recent incidents. Each incident reflects police records and is not an indication of guilt. 

School trespass reported

Police were dispatched at 7:05 p.m. Oct. 14 to the Quaker Valley Middle School property for a criminal mischief report of several teenagers trespassing, attempting to break in.

Police could hear the teens breaking several windows at 201 Graham St. One officer pulled the fence apart to get onto the property and was able to apprehend one of the juveniles. Another officer drove to the southern side of the property, where he apprehended three more juveniles near Peebles Street.

All of the children were taken to the police station and their parents were called. The information was turned over to school resource officer Bob Wright.

Accident reported

No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18 on Route 65. Police said the accident occurred at Boundary Street when Jeffrey Robb, 47, of Dover, Ohio, slowed his vehicle for traffic and was struck from behind by Earl Seitz, 42, of Pittsburgh. 

Suspicious person report

Police were dispatched at 12:45 p.m. Oct. 15 to the Sewickley Country Inn property in response to a report of a suspicious man walking around the buildings. Police arrived and searched the area and were unable to locate anyone.

Vehicle damaged

Police received a report Oct. 19 from a driver who stated she was leaving a parking lot in the 800 block of Thorn Street when her vehicle bottomed out in an open ditch. Police said Shields Asphalt had been repairing the road for Columbia Gas and removed metal grates from the driveway of her apartment complex. Police said there were no signs or flagmen warning of the approaching ditch. The vehicle sustained damage to the front undercarriage and was making a grinding sound as it was driven.

Raccoon reported

Police were called Oct. 19 to the 1300 block of Linden Street in Glen Osborne for a report of a raccoon in a garage. Police said the animal did not appear sick or injured and police were able to coax it out of the garage and back into the woods.

Bike theft

Police received a stolen bicycle report at 8:40 p.m. Oct. 19. Police said the owner was in the library for about 20 minutes and left the bike unsecured. When she came out, it was gone, police said. Police searched the area, but did not find the bike. The bike is described as a burgundy female Trek brand bicycle with a label showing “Racing Wisconsin.”