Penn Township man to serve 10-year prison sentence for jewelry heist

Rich Cholodofsky | Wednesday, March 16, 2022 4:55 p.m.

Metro Creative

Gavel in courtroom

A Penn Township man will serve up to 10 years in prison for stealing a neighbor’s jewelry in 2019.

Michael Joseph Lapaglia, 31, was convicted in November by a Westmoreland County jury of felony burglary and trespassing as well as misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property.

According to court records, police said Lapaglia broke into a neighbor’s home and stole nine items of jewelry from a bedroom dresser valued at more than $3,700. Police said surveillance video from a nearby home depicted Lapaglia climb through, then later dive out of a window before running away.

Police said Lapaglia sold eight items of stolen jewelry at MaxPoint Gold Buyers in Monroeville for $920 and one at Jackpot’s Buy Sell Trade in Jeannette.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears ordered Lapaglia to serve a five- to 10-year prison sentence.

Lapaglia, who had been free on a $5,000 bond, was given credit for more than a year he served behind bars after his arrest and was ordered to immediately begin his prison sentence.