Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh man charged in string of burglaries

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, June 21, 2024.

Pittsburgh man charged in string of burglaries

A Pittsburgh man has been charged with multiple burglaries in Allegheny County, including at laundromats in Crafton and Scott.

Shawn Jackson, 37, was caught on surveillance video during the June 10 Crafton burglary, according to Allegheny County Police. An anonymous tip received after police posted the image on social media allowed them to identify him, they said.

Jackson entered the Crennel Street laundromat shortly after 3 a.m. and cut power to the building before breaking open several kiosks and taking an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

He also is charged in several incidents on June 18: a burglary at a laundromat in the 1900 block of Painters Run Road in Scott; an attempted burglary at a laundromat in the 100 block of Curry Hollow Road in Pleasant Hills; and a theft from a car wash in the 1700 block of Painters Run Road in Upper St. Clair.

Jackson was arraigned on multiple felony charges filed by county police including: burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, trespass and criminal mischief in Crafton; burglary, trespass and criminal mischief in Scott; trespass and attempted burglary in Pleasant Hills; criminal mischief in Upper St. Clair.

He was placed in the Allegheny County Jail after failing to post $50,000 bail in the Scott case, $25,000 bail in the Pleasant Hills case and $20,000 bail in the Upper St. Clair case.

He faces a series of preliminary hearings beginning on Thursday.

Charitable donations sought in Serra Catholic student’s memory

Donations of essential items for an Appalachia Work Camp program are being accepted in memory of a late Serra Catholic High School student who volunteered with the program.

The donation drive is being organized by the parents of Samantha Kalkbrenner of Dravosburg, a 15-year-old sophomore who was killed in September when the school van that was carrying her and three other students to the McKeesport school was involved in a crash.

Toiletries, toys and new or gently used clothing for the Appalachia program may be dropped off 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays at St. Agnes Church and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the high school.

The school will be closed July 1-5. July 8 is the last day for donations.

The program provides assistance to needy families in the Appalachian Mountain area of Kentucky.