Police say the arrests of a man and woman in North Huntingdon Sunday night could help solve a rash of car break-ins in West Deer and Indiana townships earlier this month.
Dylan Keith Walklin, 26, of Munhall and Celeste Annabelle Hartle, 18, of Pittsburgh were arrested late Sunday by North Huntingdon police in connection with a stolen SUV. During a search of the hotel room where the two were staying, police say they found a handgun reported stolen from West Deer earlier this month.
In an affidavit, officers said they found a Taurus Spectrum-model .380-caliber pistol with a serial number matching the pistol taken early this month in West Deer.
According to North Huntingdon police, Walklin told them he stole the pistol from an unlocked car “up north.”
West Deer police Chief Jon Lape said about 14 cars were entered on Sunday, Sept. 15, in the Cedar Ridge plan. “In addition to small amounts of cash, the .380 was taken as well as a $3,500 purse with about $500 inside,” Lape said.
“I was notified about the pistol on Monday,” he said.
Also on Sept. 15, someone entered trucks at a Saxonburg Boulevard business and stole hand tools, said Indiana Township police Chief Tim Michael said.
It’s unclear if those tools have been found yet.
Walklin is charged in North Huntingdon with illegal gun possession, and receiving stolen property. Hartle is charged with receiving stolen property and having an instrument of crime. Both are charged with conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to receive stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft from a car, and related charges.
District Judge Wayne Gongaware ordered them held in the Westmoreland County Prison each in lieu of $50,000 combined bond pending a preliminary hearing in early October.
Township police allege Hartle was a look-out for Walklin while he searched 15 to 20 unlocked cars along Overholt Drive in North Huntingdon.
North Huntingdon police said Walklin still had a key to the SUV that police allege he stole from Moon Township earlier the same day.
According to court records, Moon police are preparing to charge Walklin with having a prohibited offensive weapon, reckless endangerment, fleeing and eluding police, and five traffic violations including reckless driving and driving at night without headlights.
North Huntingdon police said they also found a stolen backpack with a laptop computer and golf clubs valued at about $1,700 in the couple’s hotel room. All were taken in North Huntingdon.
