Homeless Man Arrested In Connection With City Burglary Spree
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Pittsburgh Police have arrested a burglary suspect they claim had been targeting more than a dozen homes in several local neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh Police said during the course of their investigation, they developed 27-year-old Tony Montgomery as their prime suspect in these burglaries.
However, before they could catch up with him he was arrested by another township on Sunday.
Surveillance video caught Montgomery, a homeless man, allegedly using a credit card three hours after stealing it.
The video revealed the first images of the person behind 16 residential burglaries and attempted break-ins in the Lawrenceville and Bloomfield/Friendship areas.
"Like he told us, he was homeless and looking for cash or liquor. He didn't really have a place to stay, so that was his motive to try and get rid of the property as fast as he can," Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Kevin Gasiorowski said.
According to police, the burglary spree started on Jan. 14 when Montgomery allegedly stole cash, jewelry, credit cards and some electronics.
However, he wasn't always successful in the attempts.
"There was a non-violent confrontation between Mr. Montgomery and a victim that ended with Mr. Montgomery apologizing to the victim and the victim escorted him out of the residence," Sgt. Gasiorowski said.
That victim would later positively identify Montgomery in a photo array, but not before Pittsburgh Police got a helping hand with the arrest.
"We were in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for him and Sunday, he was actually arrested in Harmar Township on an outstanding bench warrant," Sgt. Gasiorowski said.
Montgomery is currently at the Allegheny County Jail.
Among other charges, he's facing nine counts of burglary, seven counts of attempted burglary and seven counts of theft.
RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Reports From Heather Abraham
Pittsburgh Police
