Northern Regional Police Use Craigslist to Nab Burglary Suspect

Northern Regional police are proving you can find just about anything on Craigslist—even burglary suspects.

Chief T. Robert Amman said officers from the department used the classified advertisement website to track down a Pittsburgh man suspected of stealing power tools from businesses across the North Hills.

“It was good work done by them,” Amman said. “They were checking Craigslist and they found some matches on the tools taken.”

Jeremy Lee Caskey, 31, of McKees Rocks, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, burglary and criminal mischief in the incidents.

According to Amman, Caskey broke into vehicles and storage trailers at Air Duct Maintenance Inc., and Knobeloch Heating and Cooling in Bakerstown Feb. 20 to steal construction tools.

He also is charged with stealing power tools Jan. 25 from XTO Energy, in the Thorn Hill Industrial Park at the border of Marshall and Cranberry townships, and Feb. 13 from Watt Auto Body on Route 19 in Wexford.

In November, Caskey also broke into the Scoreboard Restaurant & Lounge on Route 8 in Richland Township but didn’t take anything, the chief said.

“The alarm went off, and he fled,” Amman said.  

Amann said detectives contacted Caskey after discovering he was selling construction tools on Craigslist that matched the description of the stolen items.

On Feb. 25, Caskey agreed to meet with undercover officers posing as customers in Shaler. Amman said Caskey pulled up to the spot in the same 1998 Chevy Blazer that surveillance video recorded leaving the Scoreboard in November. 

“When he showed up, he was arrested,” Amman said.

The chief said officers recovered more items reported stolen after serving a warrant to search Caskey’s home. Police are attempting to identify the owners of the tools, Amman said.

The chief said Caskey admitted to the thefts and to committing burglaries in McCandless, Hampton and Pittsburgh. Amann said that information has been turned over to police departments in those communities for further investigation.

“We are working with those agencies at this time,” Amman said.

Caskey was arraigned Feb. 26 before Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Donna Jo McDaniel. He is scheduled to go before Magisterial District Judge William Wagner at 9 a.m. March 20 for a preliminary hearing.

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