Oct 31, 2013 2 min read

South Strabane Township police are obtaining arrest warrants for two New York men accused of stealing money from cash registers at Walmart, Trinity Point, as well as similar thefts in Peters Township and Bethel Park.

Warrants were obtained on theft charges for Horace Graydon, 66, of Brooklyn, and Edward W. Jackson, 48, of Queens.

Township police Detective Michael Schidlmeier said the three men were going to the stores and using a key to remove money from unattended registers. The third man has not been identified. In addition to Walmart, the trio allegedly hit Walgreens in Peters and Walmart and Walgreens in Bethel Park. All the thefts happened May 23.

In the South Strabane theft, one of men went to a register at the tire and lube area, where a cash register is located. He is seen on surveillance using something to open the register. The drawer opens quickly and he removes $1,289.The other thefts were similar.

Bethel Park police told Schidlmeier that one of the thieves, identified as Jackson, opened a register drawer at Walgreens, Less than an hour later, Jackson is seen on surveillance opening a drawer at Walmart and stealing $480 while Graydon and the other suspect served as a distraction.

An hour later, the three entered Walgreens in Peters. Jackson again opened the drawer with Graydon serving as a lookout.

Fingerprints taken from packages of razor blades stolen at one of the Bethel Park stores led to the identification of the suspects as Marvin Speers, an alias used by Jackson.

Schidlmeier learned from police in New York City that two men were incarcerated on June 26 for a similar crime. The two men, who were released the following day, had a register key in their possession.

Washington County First District Attorney Michael Lucas approved Schidlmeier filing charges on behalf of Peters and Bethel Park police as well as South Strabane.

The warrants will be issued by District Judge Jay Weller.