PENNSYLVANIA STOLEN COMPUTERS RECOVEREDState police recover stolen computers - PittsburghLIVE.comState police recover stolen computers


By The Tribune-Review
Tuesday, August 16, 2005

All the computers and other electronic equipment stolen earlier this month from Greensburg Central Catholic High School were returned Monday.

Officials at the school in Hempfield Township took possession of the items, valued at more than $40,000, yesterday after they were found by state police at an undisclosed location. Arrests were expected soon, authorities said.

"It's a feeling of relief and certainly gratitude for the hard work of the Pennsylvania State Police," said Principal Terence Meehan.

Lt. James Fulmer, head of the state police crime unit for Troop A in Greensburg, said interviews led police to the stolen goods and the suspects, whom he wouldn't identify. He said Trooper Ray Andrekanic, the lead investigator in the case, would be filing criminal charges soon.


"Our people put an all-out effort into it," Fulmer said. "They got some statements ... and they were able to return the equipment."

Fulmer declined to elaborate on what led authorities to the suspects and goods. He also wouldn't say where the pilfered items had been stored.

The stolen goods included 24 flat-screen monitors, a projector, a 32-inch television and four radios with chargers.

Some of the electronic equipment was damaged, and a later accounting actually showed that more items were taken than originally believed, Meehan said.

"They got banged up a bit, but we're very grateful to have everything back," the principal said.

At this point, authorities were not ready to link the Greensburg Central Catholic case to other thefts of computers in nearby Westmoreland County communities.

A few weeks ago, 11 computers were taken from the Troutman building in Greensburg.

State police also are investigating the burglary and theft of computers Saturday from a Hempfield Township business.

A police report on that theft wasn't available yesterday.