Blairsville man accused in month-long burglary spree in Westmoreland County
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A Blairsville man was arrested this week, charged in a month-long burglary spree that targeted all-terrain vehicles, transport trailers, specialty tools and pieces of heavy equipment from drilling companies, construction sites and private storage units along the Route 22 corridor in Derry Township.
Michael C. Hamrock, 43, was charged with 25 counts including burglary, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property and theft in connection with multiple break-ins and thefts that began in Sept. 19 and continued through Oct. 14.
Derry District Justice Mark Bilik ordered Hamrock held in the county prison after he failed to post $25,000 bond. Two other Derry Township men are accused of assisting Hamrock in some of the burglaries, but have not been charged.
Trooper Matthew Gavrish of the state police motor vehicle theft task force said the spree began Sept. 19 when Hamrock and both accomplices allegedly cut the locks off eight private storage units along Route 22 and stole a .243 caliber rifle, 20-gauge shotgun, .22 caliber rifle, a crossbow, compound bow and a Linhia all-terrain vehicle.
Gavrish alleges the men sold the firearms and archery equipment to an Indiana County firearms dealer and also sold the ATV to purchase a truck that was used in the later thefts.
On various dates in October, Hamrock is accused in court documents of stealing a double-axle trailer with drilling equipment and tools at a drilling site in Bell Township; a Caterpillar equipment material handler from Penn Line Drilling Co. just off of Route 22, and three utility terrain vehicles and a carry-on transport trailer from Diamond Technical Services, an energy-related consulting company, also located along Route 22.
On Oct. 16, Gavrish reported residents in the vicinity of the 100 block of Buckhorn Lane called state police to report unknown people “moving multiple items and vehicles into the woods.” A search warrant was acquired and troopers recovered most of the stolen equipment and tools, according to court documents.
Gavrish said troopers found one of the accomplices driving a truck along Route 22, towing one of the stolen trailers “that had recently been painted red.”
Hamrock did not have an attorney listed in court documents.
According to on-line court records, Hamrock is awaiting a preliminary hearing before Blairsville District Judge Robert Bell for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia charges filed by state police in August.
Bilik scheduled Hamrock’s theft preliminary hearing for Wednesday.