Allegheny Valley Regional Police are searching for several people accused of trying to steal an ATM on Monday evening from the Sheetz in Cheswick.
Four people, who police believe are juveniles, used a dolly to wheel the PNC bank machine from the gas station to a waiting pickup truck outside, according to police Chief Michael Naviglia. From preliminary reports, Naviglia said, it appears the four were wearing masks.
As the suspects tried to load the machine into the bed of the pickup, a patrolman arrived at the scene, Naviglia said. That caused the four to drop the machine and flee, he said.
Police pursued the white pickup onto Route 28 before cutting off the chase as it reached high speeds, Naviglia said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Verona police arrested Jerry Chambers, 59, of Pittsburgh in the same white pickup as he attempted to return it to a rental lot in the borough.
Naviglia said he does not believe Chambers was with the truck at the Sheetz on Monday, however.
According to Verona police Chief Thomas Dessell, the pickup had been used last Friday by several people, Chambers among them, who were attempting to steal a vehicle’s license plate in the borough.
“The only thing I can place at both scenes is the truck,” Naviglia said.
Chambers is charged by Verona police with possessing instruments of crime, dealing with titles and plates for stolen vehicles and attempting to alter, forge or counterfeit documents.
It’s unclear if any of the others accused of attempting to steal the Verona plate were involved in the incident at Sheetz.
Another vehicle at the Cheswick scene, which Naviglia said appeared to be associated with the suspects, was reported stolen from Pittsburgh, he said.
Photos of the Sheetz scene also show a Pennsylvania license plate atop the collapsed ATM, but Naviglia said its origins remain unclear.
