Traffic stop, videos help police ID suspect in Murrysville, Penn Township thefts

A traffic stop in Murrysville led to the arrest of a suspect in multiple vehicle break-ins in several communities.

Murrysville police Detective John Devlin stopped a damaged Nissan SUV for alleged equipment violations Nov. 22. It was identical to the SUV seen at the area of the vehicle break-ins: a bronze Nissan Pathfinder with a trailer hitch, damaged front passenger side and missing headlamp.

Devlin had just watched video surveillance obtained from several stores where a man allegedly went on a spending spree using credit cards stolen from vehicle break-ins at seven area residences Nov. 17.

The owner of the SUV, Kent B. Winner, 45, told police he had recently moved to a girlfriend’s home in Derry Township.

As police continued gathering evidence in the original thefts, two other Murrysville residents reported Dec. 10 that their vehicles were entered. One victim reported a Kate Spade wallet with multiple credit cards was taken; one was used immediately afterward at the Sheetz in Murrysville.

Devlin reported in court documents that the store’s surveillance showed Winner using the stolen card, and he was arrested Dec. 12.

Winner was charged with several counts of access device fraud, theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. He also is charged with taking a .38-caliber handgun from one of the vehicles.

Noting similarities with the Murrysville thefts, Penn Township police Detective Brad Buchsbaum last week acquired a search warrant for Winner’s residence in the 1100 block of Burns Street. Police confiscated multiple items, including clothing and gift cards bought using credit cards stolen Nov. 16 during multiple vehicle break-ins in the Walton Crossing area.

Buchsbaum reported that during the search, Winner’s girlfriend told investigators that he committed the vehicle break-ins and used the stolen credit cards. Police also said they found the stolen handgun, and a guitar and case reported stolen last week out of a car in Baldwin Township.

Export District Judge Charles Conway deemed Winner a flight risk and sent him to the county jail without bail. Preliminary hearings are set for Jan. 7.