Teen Arrested After Series Of West Mifflin Robberies
WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA) – Police have arrested a 16-year-old in connection with a series of robberies in West Mifflin.
According to police, Aaron Pirl was arrested around 9 p.m. Tuesday in Duquesne.
According to the criminal complaint, Pirl will be charged as an adult in connection with incidents that date back to March.
The first incident happened in the 1600-block of Maryland Avenue on March 27, in West Mifflin.
A man borrowed his girlfriend's car in order to drive home to pick up his wallet after ordering a pizza.
As he unlocked the door to his home, an unknown male approached from behind and stuck what he believed to be a gun in his back.
After the suspect said, "give it up," he told him he didn't have anything.
At that point, the suspect shoved the victim inside the home, took the keys and stole the vehicle.
Police were called and took statements from the victim and the owner of the vehicle.
Two days later, on March 29, the owner called police after seeing her stolen car in Duquesne.
The woman approached the vehicle and yelled at the three occupants to get out of her car. All three fled on foot down Auriles Street.
However, the vehicle was in gear, rolled into a parked car and had to be towed away due to the damage.
Fingerprints belonging to Pirl were found on the vehicle's driver's side door and window.
The next incident happened on April 25. Police responded to an armed robbery call at the Monzaks Marathon gas station on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Mifflin.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the clerk noticed the suspect outside the store and his demeanor made him nervous. The suspect entered the store and asked about cigarettes. When the clerk turned back to the counter, the suspect was pointing a silver semi-automatic handgun gun at him and demanded money.
The clerk handed over about $100-$150 and the suspect took off on foot down Pennsylvania Avenue.
On April 29, the Uni-Mart on Pennsylvania Avenue was robbed around 11 p.m.
Again, the suspect pulled out a gun and demanded money. The clerk handed over about $50.
On May 1, the Dollar General on Pennsylvania Avenue was robbed around 10 p.m.
The suspect entered the store and asked the clerk if he was "holding him up from closing the store."
When the clerk told him to "take is time," the suspect grabbed some items from the store and brought them to the counter. As the clerk was bagging the items, the suspect pulled out a gun and said, "You know what this is" and "give me all the money. I don't want to hurt anybody."
Another employee behind the counter had previously been counting money and accessing the safe. The clerk tried to keep the suspect's attention on him. Once his register's drawer was open, the suspect reached in and grabbed an undisclosed amount of money.
Before leaving the store, the suspect said, "Sorry, I don't want to do this. I need the money."
The suspect fled toward the Riverview Housing Complex.
On May 10, the Marathon gas station on Pennsylvania Avenue was robbed again.
Again, a male with a silver semi-automatic handgun demanded money. The clerk put the register's drawer on the counter, the suspect took the money and fled.
In this case, the suspect got away with, "a few hundred dollars."
Police arrived, processed the scene and developed Pirl as a suspect.
In the days after the May 10 robbery, police showed a photo array to several robbery victims and the owner of the stolen vehicle.
All of the victims identified Pirl as the suspect.
Lynn Axelson who works on Pennsylvania Avenue across from one of the businesses robbed said, "I'm just very relieved because it's hard working here and dealing with customers. You never know who could come in and out of the office. We're just glad that they found the person who did it."
Pirl is facing a list of charges including three counts aggravated assault, three counts of robbery, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and, theft by unlawful taking.
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