Apr 30, 2014 2 min read

A Canonsburg man admitted to borough police that he burglarized a convenience store last month so he could get money to buy heroin.

Timothy Gamble, 18, of 416 Giffin Ave., was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge David Mark on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and theft for allegedly breaking into the Seven Hills convenience store, 368 Euclid Ave., March 28.

Police were called after the break-in was discovered at the store, which had been closed, about 6 a.m. Responding officers found the glass in the right entry door had been broken out. Muddy footprints leading behind the counter were discovered, as was a cinder block that had apparently been used to break the glass.

Newport cigarettes and several hundred dollars in cash had been stolen.

Police Sgt. Al Coghill said video surveillance was reviewed and showed a white man wearing a dark jacket and dark, long pants with a light, hooded shirt throw the block through the door and enter the store. He is seen going to the counter and removing several items before fleeing from the store. After reviewing the tape, Coghill noticed the suspect resembled Gamble, who lives near the store.

“There had been several arrests of people living at his home and I believed he was the prime suspect,” Coghill said. “That house has been a problem in the neighborhood.”

Canonsburg police arrested Gamble’s 22-year-old brother, Damen Gamble, and Natalie McCloskey, 22, who also lives at 416 Giffei, for reportedly robbing a McMurray man in an alleged drug deal gone bad in the parking lot of the store the day before the burglary. Damen Gamble was taken into custody earlier this month while McCloskey was arrested Tuesday.

Timothy Gamble was interviewed by police last week and gave a written statement confessing to the burglary. In his statement, he reportedly told police that he was high on Xanax and sick from heroin.

Coghill said this is yet another suspect who has indicated they committed a crime because of an addiction to heroin.

Gamble was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday before Mark.