Police Say Man Broke Into Ex-Girlfriend's House, Stole Her Car

VERONA (KDKA) – A woman in Veronica returned home Wednesday night to find her ex-boyfriend had broken into her house and was waiting for her to get back.

After being told several times to leave, the man stole the woman's car, sped through a local neighborhood then tried to get away through a park.

Veronica Police say the rain overnight played a role in the delayed arrest of 44-year-old Kermit Backus, Jr., who is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and stealing her car. But around 5 a.m. Thursday, he was found and charged.

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Backus was taken away from the Verona Police Station Christmas Eve, found in neighboring Penn Hills after eluding the police for hours. Police say when his ex-girlfriend returned to her home around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, she found Backus was in her house.

"She told him to leave, and they got into a small argument," Veronica Police Chief Ron McLemore said. "He took the keys to the car and left. Stole her car, basically, and left, without permission, in her car."

According to court papers, the woman filed a PFA against Backus almost immediately after giving police the report about the stolen car. Then, just hours later, the stolen Ford focus was back in the woman's driveway, and Verona Police spotted Backus.

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"Approximately 1 a.m., officers approached him. He was back near the residence," McLemore said. "The officer approached him, and he took off running on foot. It was pouring down rain. Officers lost track of the subject at that time."

It was about 5 a.m. when Backus was taken into custody, about 2 and a half miles away, by a Penn Hills officer.

"He was arrested and transported to the Verona Police Department, and then transported to the Allegheny County Jail," McLemore said.

Backus is charged with burglary, theft and trespassing. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled on January 4.