Couple Accused Of Breaking Into Vehicles In Church Parking Lots
SLICKVILLE (KDKA) -- Police say a Westmoreland County couple is accused of rifling through cars while their owners have been worshipping in church.
According to investigators, it was a surveillance camera that eventually blew their cover.
The vehicle break-in operation was headquartered out of a home in Slickville, state police said. The suspects are identified as 31-year-old Frederick Allen Stormer and 35-year-old Catherene Reed.
Pastor Bill Schaefer, of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Latrobe, says it only took about five minutes for the duo to allegedly break into cars in the church's parking lot in August.
"Someone had seen someone pulling on the door handles that Sunday morning," said Pastor Schaefer.
Troopers say security cameras caught Stormer using a stolen credit card at the Route 30 Sunoco almost immediate after the break-ins.
Investigators say they believe the two also broke in to cars at St. Sylvester's in Slickville and St. James Church in New Alexandria.
"Our congregation comes here thinking their property is safe here at the parish," said Bill De'Angelo, of St. James Church. "But we put notices in the bulletin, and told them now we unfortunately have to lock everything."
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Stormer and Reed are suspects in car break-ins at Ligonier Alliance Church, and in Indiana County, the Church of the Good Shephard, the Indiana Borough bus terminal, the Walmart in Blairsville and the Indiana Mall parking lot.
"If they really needed something, we could have helped them here at the parish," said De'Angelo.
Court records indicate the couple pulled off several car break-ins with a child in the getaway car. Both are in the Westmoreland County Jail, held on bond facing theft and child endangerment counts.
"There are folks who are having a hard time, but that doesn't forgive the fact they've broken the law and they need to answer for their crime," said Pastor Schaefer.
Investigators continue to look into other thefts the couple may be connected to as well.
