Stolen truck, guns from Monroeville recovered in Pitcairn

A truck containing two handguns was stolen in Monroeville and recovered a day later in Pitcairn, Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole said.

Cole said the theft’s “M.O.” fits the pattern of juveniles ransacking unlocked vehicles and sometimes stealing them if keys are available.

He said the black Chevy, four-door crew cab truck was stolen off College Park Drive at 5 a.m. Aug. 20. It was reported stolen three hours later.

There have been no arrests related to the theft, Cole said. But the truck, guns and other items like tools inside the truck were recovered in the 600 block of Fifth Street in Pitcairn.

Pitcairn police Chief Scott Farally said the truck was parked in a parking spot, but that a resident called in a parking complaint because its presence was “suspicious.”

Monroeville has experienced as many as 40 incidents of items being taken out of unlocked vehicles since June, and 17 vehicles have been reported stolen since then, with 11 of those thefts occurring in July alone.

Monroeville police have made arrests in relation to the thefts, but Cole has said that has led nowhere because juvenile detention centers are not detaining them because they haven’t committed violent crimes.

Cole reiterated the importance of locking vehicles and refraining from keeping valuables inside them.