Burglars hit four businesses
State police and North Strabane Township police are investigating burglaries at four businesses, two at routes 519 and 136 in Somerset Township and two in North Strabane, within a three-hour period early Monday, and they believe the same two culprits may be responsible for all of the break-ins.
The burglars hit the Sunoco and Kwik Fill in Somerset and Suzie B’s Deli, 950-B South Central Avenue, and the BP/Amoco station, 2229 Route 519, both in North Strabane. Police said two men entered the businesses.
The first reported break-in came about 12:11 a.m. at the Sunoco station in Somerset.
North Strabane police then responded to front door and interior motion alarms at the BP/Amoco station.
When township police Officer Michael Miller arrived, he found the interior lights were on and the lock broken on the front doors. He did not see anyone inside the store. Cash registers behind the checkout counter were open, and it appeared cigarettes were stolen.
The manager told police the business closed at 10 p.m. Police checked the surveillance video and saw two white men entering the building at 12:53 a.m. They came from the rear of the building. One wore jeans, a black T-shirt, tennis shoes and a brown camouflage hood and mask combination. The other man wore a black, hooded shirt and mask. Both wore gloves. One of the burglars carried a pry bar, and the other carried a black bag. They were seen quickly prying open the lock on the door and entering the building. One began loading cigarettes and a box of lighters, while the other pried open a register. They left five minutes after entering the building.
State troopers also came and reviewed the video at the BP/Amoco and told township police that the suspects’ descriptions match those of the two who entered the Sunoco.
At 2:15 a.m., township police responded to assist state police at the Kwik Fill. About an hour later, township police were called to Suzie B’s after an employee of a bakery making a delivery discovered the front door had been forced open. Police found a small safe open and in front of the counter. Packages of crackers were strewn about the business.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 724-223-5200 or North Strabane police at 724-745-8880.