Watch CBS News

Attentive Neighbor Helps Pittsburgh Police Nab Serial Burglar

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A member of the Brookline Block Watch Association helped Pittsburgh Police nab a serial burglar.

The woman, who did not want to show her face, spoke exclusively to KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland.

She said as soon as she saw Daniel Wolfe's face on Birkshire Avenue on Wednesday, she became suspicious because of all the recent burglaries in the neighborhood.

"And the next thing I know, he took the screen out of the window, opened the window and he dove in that window in a matter of seconds," she said.

While Wolfe was inside, the neighbor called 911 and then grabbed her camera.

"I just thought of my camera and I said so I have a correct look of him, what he was wearing," she said.

It worked. Police picked up Wolfe a few blocks away on Woodburne Avenue in the same clothes he was wearing in the picture.

He was wanted in two other burglaries earlier this month.

Police say Wolfe had items that he had stolen from the Birkshire Avenue home.

Wolfe is now in custody, charged with nine recent burglaries.

"I'm just glad that we have nice neighbors around here, I'll tell you that," Alicia Marasco, a neighbor, said. "I'm grateful."

People who live in that area say they had all been on alert because of the recent burglaries and that had been the focus of the block watch meetings.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Brookline Block Watch Association

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.