Unlocked vehicles targets of theft in Shaler and Aspinwall area

Police in several communities are imploring residents to lock up after a rash of thefts from unlocked vehicles.

“We had 18 reports this week — that’s a high number,” said Shaler police chief Sean Frank. “I want to stress these were not vehicle break-ins, that means a car is locked. All of these cars were left unlocked.”

Alerts about the recent vehicle incidents were posted this weekend to both Shaler and Aspinwall’s department Facebook pages.

This weekend in Aspinwall, police reported finding numerous unlocked cars and homes.

A car with the keys left inside was stolen this week in Aspinwall, and later retrieved.

Aspinwall police chief Michael Vith said he’s added a plaincloth officer in an unmarked car in response to the recent criminal activity in the borough.

“Everyone, please lock your homes and vehicles each and every day,” Vith said.

Vith said the stolen car taken from the lower Aspinwall area was recovered in under an hour in Pittsburgh.

Statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau noted auto thefts increased nationally more than 9% in 2020, with more than 873,000 vehicles stolen— an increase of more than 73,000 thefts from 2019.

Frank said the slew of thefts from vehicles took place on Nov. 25-26 along the following streets: Scott Avenue, Heron Lane, Vollmer Drive, Oakwood Road, Shirehill Drive, Richard Drive and Luanne Street.

Frank said no arrests have been made and two guns were among the stolen items.

“It’s a false sense of security,” Frank said of some residents who continue to leave valuables in unlocked cars. “They’re too trusting. They think we live in Mayberry in the 1950s.”

Frank said the suspects are likely teenagers, but it’s hard to know because in video footage they’re wearing hoodies and face coverings.

“They’re walking through these areas just checking to see if doors are unlocked,” Frank said of the suspects.

In response to the recent thefts, Shaler police have stepped up overnight patrols, but added the department has more than 200 miles of roadway to monitor.

Fox Chapel Police chief Michael Stevens said he’s “frustrated” with residents leaving their car doors unlocked in the borough.

“People never lock their doors,” Stevens said. “And they leave purses, wallets, keys and guns inside their vehicles. The same areas in Fox Chapel get hit and the residents still won’t lock their doors.”

Chief Stevens said most of the thefts repeatedly occur along Delafield Road, East and West Waldheim Roads and South Pasadena, usually between 1 to 5 a.m.

“The suspects, usually juveniles, drive stolen cars to the area, go on foot searching for unlocked cars and steal change, wallets, sunglasses, purses, guns — anything of value or lightweight,” Stevens explained. “Once they find keys inside cars, they steal that car and continue the process until light.”

Stevens said if car doors are locked, a suspect will usually move on.

“That’s why law enforcement begs residents to lock their doors and keep valuables inside their homes,” he said.