Sewickley Police Blotter: Vehicle Break-Ins and Violations

continue to remain vigilant following several in the borough involving unlocked cars. 

Sewickley Police Chief James Ersher is reminding residents to lock their car doors.

• Police on Feb. 27 watched a man park in the 700 block of Beaver Street and catch a bus moments later. An officer walked past the man's vehicle and noticed keys were left on the floor and the doors unlocked, police said. Residents near the vehicle said the car belonged to their relative who parks to catch the bus. The residents were informed of recent vehicle thefts in the area and advised not to leave the keys inside, police said.

• On Feb. 24, an officer noticed a parked vehicle in the 700 block of Beaver Street with the trunk popped open and found the car was left unlocked. Police said an officer knocked on the resident’s door but no one was home, so the officer secured the vehicle.

• Police received a report Feb. 20 that someone had stolen a vehicle from a home in the 700 block of Beaver Street. Police said the vehicle was last seen parked in the driveway on Feb. 15. It is described as a silver 2010 Chrysler Town and Country.

• Also on Feb. 20, police were called to regarding an iPod stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 700 block. The owner of the vehicle said he clicked the lock, but the vehicle must not have locked.

• Due to recent thefts, police on Feb. 23 stopped two teens who were walking at 8:30 p.m. in the middle of Nevin Avenue. Police said one of the teens was visiting from Pittsburgh. Both were informed about extra patrols due to recent thefts and released with a warning for jaywalking, police said.

• Police stopped another teen on Feb. 17 following a report of a suspicious male looking into cars on Nevin Avenue. Police stopped a teen fitting the description and learned the boy had walked to visit a friend in the area and stopped to use the reflection on several car windows to adjust his baseball cap. He was patted down and found with a cell phone. Police informed the teen’s parents of the reasons for the stop.

• A day earlier, police received a report from neighbors about a man who broke into an unlocked car on Nevin Avenue and took a backpack from a car. Residents said the man on Feb. 16 walked toward Dickson Road holding the backpack. Police did not locate the man, but found the backpack discarded on the street in the 800 block of Nevin. Nothing was missing from the bag, police said.

Sewickley police also responded to the following recent incidents. 

Vehicle violations

Police stopped a car on Feb. 24 that was driven by James Brightwell, 34, of Beaver Falls, following a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Graham Street and the Ohio River Boulevard in Sewickley. Police said Brightwell’s car struck another vehicle in the rear, then left the scene.

The other driver chased Brightwell into Emsworth before Ohio Township police stopped the car on Camp Horne Road. Police said Brightwell’s license was under suspension. The vehicle’s registration was expired and he had no insurance. Police charged him with leaving the scene of an accident, driving while suspended,  and other summary offenses.

Drug possession report

Police stopped a car Feb. 25 on Walnut Street after the vehicle’s registration was found to have expired. An officer approached the vehicle and immediately smelled marijuana.  The driver, Derek Abdelhak, 23, of Sewickley, told police the car belonged to his brother. During a search police said officers found a bag of marijuana, cigarette papers and two prescription pain pills. Abdelhak was advised charges would be filed and the car was towed.

Car crash

Police cited a Sewickley woman with failing to stop at a stop sign following a two-vehicle crash. Police said Gloria Gaydos was north on Thorn Street and thought she stopped at the stop sign. Police said her car collided at the intersection of Walnut Street with a car driven by Jean Sebolt of Sewickley.  

Vehicle violations, drug charges

Police stopped a vehicle for speeding Feb. 24 on Route 65 in the borough. Police said the driver, Matthew Goss, 21, of Beaver Falls, consented to a search. Police found a backpack belonging to passenger Ryan Bogolea, 22, of New Brighton, that contained a pill bottle half filled with marijuana roaches, about 6 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and several empty sandwich bags. Goss was cited with careless driving and Bogolea was taken into custody for processing and charged via summary with possession offenses.

Car lockout 

Police were called Feb. 20 to Broad and Beaver streets for a report of a vehicle lock-out with a child inside. Police were able to retrieve the child, whom police said was doing fine.

Chickens at large

Police were called Feb. 20 to the 500 block of Centennial Avenue for a report of several chickens at large on a property. The resident told police the chickens have been coming, causing her dogs to go wild. She worried the dogs might chase the chickens into the street and get hit. Police spoke to the owner of the chickens, Marie Soltis, who didn’t know they they had escaped. Soltis told police her aunt was planning to take the chickens due to the ongoing problem. 

Theft report

Police received a report that someone used a resident’s credit card information to make six charges totaling $115 on Walmart.com. The items were shipped Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 to Indianapolis. Police believe someone phished the woman’s information from the computer.

Stolen bicycle

Someone stole a bicycle at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 18 that was left unlocked outside the Sewickley Public Library.  The bike is described as a black older model Gitchagumee with a black bell on the right handle bar. Police said the mountain bike was worth $300 and has the word “Gitchagumee” on the side.