Serial Thief Escapes Custody During Arraignment

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A suspect about to be arraigned on theft charges had to be re-arrested minutes later after he somehow slipped out of a holding cell.

Forest Hills police say 69-year-old George Vaughn from Rankin started his day with yet another retail theft charge.

Officers say Vaughn walked into Aldi's Market on Route 30 and stole nearly $200 worth of meat.

Vaughn was identified on the in store surveillance video.

Police caught him walking with the stolen meat not far from the store.

He was taken to the district magistrate in Forest Hills for arraignment.

Officers say he has nine-previous convictions for retail theft and apparently didn't want to go to jail again.

An officer placed him in a holding room to await arraignment.

The door was left unlocked and Vaughn walked out, then escaped the building through a side door.

Police immediately launched a manhunt for Vaughn.

He was recaptured less than a mile away behind Sacred Heart church in North Braddock.

He was brought back to the magistrate's office and arraigned for retail theft, and a new charge of escape.

Vaughn was then taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

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