The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 21, 2008

Police being kept busy by break-ins, charge 2

By Courtney Anderson

SHARON — A burglar was caught in the act in one Sharon home and another man was arrested on similar charges over the weekend, police said.

More than a dozen homes have been burglarized in the past week or so in the city, police said.

A man was charged with committing one burglary last week and named as a suspect in others, but the crimes continued after he was put behind bars.

Richard A. Hinkson, 40, of 148 W. State St., Sharon, was charged with burglary, theft and criminal trespassing after police were called at 7:15 p.m. Saturday to 42 N. Main St., where homeowners were holding Hinkson on the porch until police arrived, police said.

Police said the residents returned home and found Hinkson hiding behind the refrigerator. Hinkson surrendered a bag he had with knives and other items that belonged to the homeowners when they found him, police said.

Early Sunday morning, a 77-year-old woman was awakened by a man in her house who told her he was looking for a woman he thought might be there, police said.

James M. DelFratte, 48, of 1005 N. Buhl Farm Drive, Hermitage, was charged with felony criminal trespassing after police found him about 1:30 a.m. at Division Street and Indiana Avenue, police said. Neighbors who police said had heard shouting inside the home described DelFratte’s car, police said.

Another alleged burglar was charged last week.

Ljubomir “Lou” Pantelic, 29, of 611 Pierce Ave., was charged with burglary and resisting arrest about 9 p.m. Thursday after he ran from a home in the 300 block of Spruce Avenue and was chased by police, police said.

While police have said they are investigating Pantelic for possible involvement in the rash of burglaries in the week prior to his arrest, there have been many more since he was arrested.

Police Monday did not have specific reports, but said that there were three burglaries reported Thursday night, including one on Smith Avenue, one on Park Street and one on Cedar Avenue.

Since Friday, police also received other reports of burglaries or attempted burglaries.

A couple awoke at 3:50 a.m. Friday in their home in the 1300 block of Griswold Street to find lights on and the front door and a window open. The next day they found the man’s wallet and about $150 were missing from his pants, which had been in the bedroom.

Someone tried to break into homes though first floor windows overnight Thursday in the 700 block of Shady Avenue, sometime overnight Friday at a home in the 1000 block of Glenwood Avenue and sometime a day or two before Saturday at a home in the 1300 block of Griswold.

Police ask public to keep watch, report suspicious activity

Police urge citizens to keep a diligent watch on their neighborhoods in the wake of recent burglaries in Sharon.

Extra patrols are on the lookout, but police ask residents to keep their eyes open and report suspicious activity.

Those who live in the area south of East State Street and east of Stambaugh Avenue, where the bulk of home burglaries have happened, should be particularly cautious, police said.

Keep doors locked and windows — especially ones on the first floor or above roof areas that are easy to climb onto — secured.

And if you hear a dog persistently barking or a crashing noise nearby, check it out.

Many recent thefts have involved small items like cash or jewelry, but police said some have involved things like big-screen televisions that would require more than one person to carry.

Anyone who sees people they don’t know milling about their neighborhood should call 911.

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