Pittsburgh man arrested, second warrant obtained in Canonsburg motorcycle theft
Motorcycle theft in Canonsburg
This surveillance photo posted on the Barnes Bros. Motorcycles & Off Road Facebook page shows two men who allegedly stole a motorcycle from the business last week.
John Leasa
A member of the state police Western Regional Auto Theft Task Force arrested one Pittsburgh man and obtained a warrant for another in Saturday’s theft of a motorcycle from outside a Canonsburg shop.
John Allen Leasa, 52, was arraigned Monday afternoon before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. A warrant was obtained Tuesday for the arrest of Keith P. Doolin, 41, on identical charges. State police told Canonsburg police Detective Michael Ledger the men are suspects in similar thefts in the Pittsburgh area.
The owners of Barnes Bros. Motorcycles & Off Road, 589 W. Pike St., called police about 10:40 a.m. Saturday to report a 2012 gray Suzuki DR 650 dual-sport motorcycle was stolen by two men. They fled in a green Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck that did not have a tailgate.
The two men were seen on surveillance inside the showroom, looking at motorcycles. When they left the store, one of them pushed the Suzuki around to the side of the building, where the two loaded it into the back of a pickup truck parked near the Rite Aid lot. The thieves fled onto Pike Street.
Thanks to social media, Ledger said police got an anonymous tip with a license number of the truck and information the vehicle was in Pittsburgh. State police, in court documents, also indicated information obtained on social media identified Leasa as one of the alleged thieves.
State police went to Leasa’s home. Ledger said Leasa fled but was apprehended. Leasa, who police said owned the truck, allegedly admitted his involvement in the theft and implicated Doolin. Police said they were able to positively identify Doolin through his driver’s license photo.
The motorcycle was recovered near Leasa’s home in the Mt. Oliver section of Pittsburgh.
Leasa was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. He faces a July 31 hearing before District Judge David Mark.