Community Corner

Police: Gibsonia Teen Served as Lookout, Distraction for Home Burglaries in Richland

Tyler Gazdik, 19, ordered to stand trial.

A Gibsonia teen served as a lookout and a distraction as his friend burglarized two homes on Ben Miller and Elgro roads in Richland Township in the latter half of 2012, according to testimony from a police detective Wednesday.

Tyler Gazdik, 19, is charged with working with to burglarize those homes. He also told police he acted alone to take copper pipes and wire coils from a Grubbs Road home in Richland, Hampton Detective Robert Kirsopp testified.

Magisterial District Judge William K. Wagner ordered Gazdik to stand trial on burglary, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and criminal trespass charges.

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The district attorney's office withdrew some charges and added others at Wednesday's hearing.

Gazdik entered a not-guilty plea through his defense attorney, Wendy Williams.

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Co-defendant Hudec died at the end of December as he awaited trial on multiple charges. The circumstances have not been determined.

"Through pain and suffering, our family endures," Gazdik's parents, Joe and Laurie, said in a written statement to Patch after the hearing. "We will be supportive and pray for our child and others to have a normal and productive life. In our hopes and love and prayers, we are a strong and supportive family."

Kirsopp testified that he interviewed Gazdik on the morning of Oct. 16 when the teen turned himself in.

Gazdik told the detective that he had nothing to do with burglaries in Hampton but was involved in Richland burglaries, the detective testified.

Kirsopp said he was working with Northern Regional Police Department to investigate numerous thefts close to the border of Hampton and Richland townships.

Gazdik also faces charges in Hampton—he is scheduled for a Jan. 23 preliminary hearing on 22 misdemeanor counts of theft from a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling at night, and conspiracy.

Burglary on Ben Miller Road 

Gazdik told the detective that he stood watch outside a home on Ben Miller Road in Richland in the early morning hours while Hudec went inside, testimony showed.

The detective testified that Gazdik told him Hudec stayed inside for so long, he left and later got a call from Hudec.

A criminal complaint filed by Northern Regional Police listed about $2,000 in items stolen from the home—an Xbox with accessories and games, alcohol, cash and a chainsaw.

Kirsopp said that Gazdik agreed to go for a ride with him after the interview at the Hampton police station. During that ride, Gazdik pointed out the home on Ben Miller, as well as homes on Elgro Road and Grubbs Road, the detective said.

Burglary on Elgro Road

For the Elgro Road residence near Hudec's home, Gazdik said he went to the front door and got the owner to come out on the porch to talk while Hudec entered the home and took a telescope, ashtray and jewelry, Kirsopp testified.

The criminal complaint states Hudec went into the home through a rear basement window and his fingerprint was found there.

Northern Regional Police Officer Scott Rick testified that the homeowner never reported a theft, but she remembered a white male coming to her door. She told police she noticed things were moved around in her home.

Theft from Grubbs Road Home

 Gazdik told the detective he went to a Grubbs Road home that was under construction and took copper pipe and wire coils, which he later sold to a scrap yard in Middlesex, Kirsopp testified.

Burglary on Richland Road

Kirsopp said he learned from Northern Regional's Rick about a Richland Road home burglary in which an Xbox game system and games were stolen.

Kirsopp testified that Gazdik sold an Xbox game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3", to GameStop for $12.80 just a few days after the August burglary.

Defense attorney Williams questioned how the detective knew the popular game came from the burglary.

Kirsopp said Gazdik told him that he got the game from Hudec, but did not say he knew it was stolen.

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