Ross Township Police Blotter: Weeks before Christmas Brought Shoplifting, Mischief and a Stolen Vehicle

Dec. 26

Police responded to a report of retail theft of $24 worth of jewelry at 2:54 p.m. at Spencer Gifts at the Ross Park Mall.  

Police responded to a report of stolen laundry detergent at about 11:55 a.m. at an unidentified business along McKnight Road.  

A 54-year-old man reported at 10:13 a.m. that an unknown person had placed roofing nails in his driveway along Babcock Boulevard, damaging his vehicle. 

Dec. 25

A 74-year-old man reported that at about 5:52 p.m. someone stole a mechanical reindeer from his property along Cherryland Street. 

Police responded to a home on Lee Avenue after a 50-year-old man reported a domestic dispute involving a knife. A woman was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault. 

Three males were arrested for public drunkenness at about 3:24 p.m. near the Ross Park Mall.  

Police responded to a reported burglary in progress at 2:58 p.m. A 36-year-old man said he was sleeping when he heard a rustling noise near the Christmas tree by the rear door. He said he then saw a man he did not know standing by the tree. The two struggled, and when police arrived they witnessed the victim holding down a man dressed in camouflage outside. Kevin Menhorn, 26, of Ross, was arrested and charged with burglary. Police said that as he was being arrested he kept making statements about his father and letters he found. Items reported taken were letters. 

Dec. 24

Police responded at 5:25 p.m. to on McKnight Road for a report of a shoplifter in custody. Items reported taken included candy bars and petroleum jelly. 

A man, unknown age, was arrested for public drunkenness at 3:02 p.m. along McKnight Road. 

Police responded to a report at  on Ross Park Mall Drive that counterfeit bills had been passed in an overnight deposit. 

Police responded at 8:42 a.m. to on McKnight Road to assist loss-prevention agents with a shoplifter they had detained. Police helped identify the suspect, who reportedly took a pair of Adidas high-top tennis shoes. The store's employees are handling prosecution. 

Dec. 23

A 26-year-old woman reported the theft of bras from a public laundry room at Cascades Townhouse Apartments on North South Drive. 

A man, unidentified, was arrested for the retail theft of video games and clothing at 7:11 p.m. at Kohl's Department Store on McKnight Road after officers responded to a separate call about a woman being detained for shoplifting jewelry. The department store is privately prosecuting the woman. 

A 48-year-old woman reported that someone cut her Christmas lights in front of her house along Thompson Run Road. 

Police responded to a report of $1,770 in stolen cash from the at the Ross Park Mall. 

Dec. 22

Police responded at 6:19 p.m. to on McKnight Road for a report of the retail theft of a Dyson vaccuum cleaner. The store's manager told police a man took the vaccuum cleaner, ran out of the store, jumped in a waiting vehicle and left the scene. Video of the incident was retrieved. 

Police responded at 5:17 p.m. to on McKnight Road for a report of a woman shoplifting clothing. The woman was released and advised of pending charges. All clothing items were returned to the store. 

A 27-year-old man reported that someone had taken the center caps from his parked vehicle.  

A 61-year-old man reported a home invasion between 5:20 a.m. and 5:22 a.m. along Babcock Boulevard. For full story: http://patch.com/A-pC9V

Dec. 21

Police responded at 10:40 p.m. to Dick's Sporting Goods along McKnight Road for the theft of nine Adams golf clubs by two unknown males. 

A 35-year-old woman reported criminal mischief to her Christmas decorations between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday on Rene Drive. 

A 52-year-old man reported a burglary and theft of a 40-inch LCD flat-screen television between 9:50 p.m. Tuesday and 7:16 a.m. Wednesday from his business along McKnight Road. 

A 58-year-old man reported vandalism between 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. along Richard Drive.  

Dec. 20

One unidentified man was arrested after officers conducted an undercover purchase of heroin at 3:49 p.m. inside the store on McKnight Road.  

Relatives of an 87-year-old woman who is a patient at the nursing home reported thousands of dollars worth of fraudulent purchases made on her credit card. 

A 23-year-old woman reported that a pair of UGG boots and perfume was taken during the non-forced burglary between 10 p.m. Monday and 5:15 a.m. Tuesday of a garage on Thompson Run Road. 

Dec. 19

Police responded to Wick Drive for a report of the death of an 84-year-old woman. 

Dec. 16

Police responded to Kohl's Department Store on McKnight Road for a report of a gift card scam. A 36-year-old man told police he responded to a Craigslist classified ad that offered a $142 gift gard for $100 cash. He arranged to meet the seller at the store, where the amount on the card was verified. The transaction was completed, but after the victim shopped for merchandise and attempted to check out, only $9 remained on the card. Police determined that the seller made an online transaction using the card number immediately after the exchange. Joseph Sargent, 40, of Ross, was charged with theft. 

Dec. 15

A 19-year-old man reported damage to his vehicle, which was parked at about 6:45 p.m. at Osterle Park.  

A 43-year-old man reported that someone smashed his front door in with a sledge hammer. The vandalism occurred at a home along Jacks Run Road. 

Dec. 14

Police responded to Macy's Department store at the Ross Park Mall for a report of an employee theft. Items taken included currency and jewelry. The employee gave loss-prevention officers a written confession, police said. Charges were pending. 

Police responded to Target on McKnight Road for a report that a woman had taken three DVDs. The items were recovered, and charges were pending.

A 56-year-old man reported the theft of his 2006 Honda Odyssey between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 8:09 a.m. Wednesday from along Bellevue Road. 

Police responded to a report of a robbery at about 8:30 a.m. at the Island Bean Coffee Company on McKnight Road. For full story: http://patch.com/A-p1vX