Thieves get $400 for vases, police say
Three Fayette County men charged with stealing 125 cemetery markers allegedly got only a few hundred dollars from a scrap dealer for the bronze vases valued at more than $37,500.
Timothy McKinney, 25, of New Salem; Walter Bella, 31, of Republic; and Brian K. Porter, 30, of Cardale, are charged with theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy in the Sept. 26 thefts of the vases from LaFayette Memorial Park in Redstone Township.
McKinney told state police Trooper James Pierce during an interview that the group received about $400 for the grave markers, according to an arrest affidavit filed before Brownsville District Judge Michael Defino.
Pierce said yesterday the case is under investigation and the scrap dealer has not been charged.
"It was a high priority to get those guys arrested," Pierce said. "In those areas, they were hit pretty hard by burglaries and thefts."
He said police have linked the men to 15 other burglaries and thefts.
The LaFayette theft was the third time this year that burglars hit the cemetery.
None of the items from the LaFayette thefts has been recovered, Pierce said. Police have not linked the men to the earlier cemetery thefts.
Pierce said a tip led police to the three suspects. Police obtained a warrant in Common Pleas Court to tap McKinney's telephone after receiving the information, according to court records.
During the electronic interceptions McKinney admitted he committed the cemetery theft and several others, Pierce reported in the arrest affidavit.
McKinney and Porter are charged with burglarizing the New Salem Mini-Mart and the American Legion in Republic. Police report they intend to charge McKinney and Porter with burglaries and thefts at Twin Star Tavern, the Republic Municipal Authority office, Wagon Wheel Restaurant, Johnson's Bar, all in Republic; the Village and Salem Lounges in New Salem, the Filbert Shop in Filbert; the Brownsville Gun Club and Cardale Elementary School.
The three men will be charged with a recent burglary at the Allison Veterans of Foreign War posts. Porter is also accused of breaking into the Fairbanks Bowling alley.
Pierce said the other cases involved thefts of cash, but the total amount taken was not available.
Anyone with more information about the vases should contact Pierce at the Uniontown barracks, 724-439-7111, or Trooper Craig Yauch at the Belle Vernon barracks, 724-929-6262.
"We're very pleased police were able to make an arrest," said a spokesperson for the cemetery, who declined to be identified.
Bella posted $2,500 bond and was released from the county prison. McKinney and Porter are being held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday before Defino.
