Fox Chapel, O'Hara police investigating recent burglaries

There have been a total of five burglaries in Fox Chapel and O’Hara over the past two weeks, according to police in the two communities.

Fox Chapel police Chief David Laux said the burglaries in the borough all happened the same night, Jan. 29, along Fairview Road.

Laux said his department is working in conjunction with Allegheny County Police and City of Pittsburgh Police to find the suspects, who were seen in surveillance video wearing masks and gloves. He said police are on the lookout for a maroon van with out-of-state license plates.

“So far, we’ve been unsuccessful in getting a suspect,” Laux said.

He said he has asked residents to report any “suspicious vehicles,” because the suspects have likely switched vehicles at this point.

Calling 911 is the best way to get a patrol officer out to take a look at a suspicious vehicle, he said.

Laux said the suspects burglarized homes that were empty at the time of the break-ins, which was between 6 and 7 p.m. The people who lived in two of the homes were in Florida at the time. The others were out at the time. He said each home had an alarm system but that the burglars used points of entry that did not trip the system.

“We don’t believe they’re sophisticated, they just didn’t alarm the systems at the entry points they chose,” Laux said.

He saiditems that were reported stolen include jewelry, guns and cash.

O’Hara police Chief Scott Slagel said the township has experienced two burglaries in the past two weeks. He declined further comment.

Allegheny County police Sgt. Matt Mineard confirmed the department is assisting Fox Chapel police.

“The county police are exhausting our investigative resources to assist the local police department,” Mineard said in an emailed statement. He declined to offer further details.