Saxonburg restaurant burglar loses shoe in getaway from police

A man who burglarized a Saxonburg restaurant Sunday night got away from police, but left a shoe behind.

Nothing was taken from Kelley’s Family Restaurant on West Main Street, police Chief Joe Beachem said Tuesday.

A neighbor behind the restaurant called 911 around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and reported seeing the man enter the restaurant through the second floor.

The burglar was described as a white male, in his late teens to early 20s, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and dark colored shorts.

Beachem said he didn’t get away with anything because his attempt was interrupted “before he got to where he wanted to go.”

He didn’t make it to the restaurant’s first floor, Beachem said.

“We had a unit sitting probably 50 yards from the restaurant when the call came in,” Beachem said, adding that Buffalo Township police also responded. “He was still inside when the guys got there.”

While officers were checking the perimeter of the building, the burglar jumped off of the roof and ran down Main Street a short distance, where he lost one shoe. He then turned onto North Isabella Street, where officers lost him behind some buildings.

Beachem said police were not releasing a description of the shoe.

“It seems to be a type of footwear that is associated with a certain occupation,” he said.

Saxonburg police ask those with information about the burglary to call them at 724-352-6255.

Brian Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.