Many of the items taken from vehicles in Peters and neighboring Bethel Park have been returned to the owners. However, other items remain unclaimed.

“We have property from all the thefts that we can’t identify the owner,” Peters Township police Chief Harry Fruecht Sept. 3. “We believe all the items we have are from residences in Peters or Bethel Park and not outside the community.”

Fruecht said the 11 teens charged in connection with 36 thefts in Peters admitted only to entering vehicles in that community and in Bethel Park.

Bethel Park police Chief John Mackey said about 12 thefts from vehicles have occurred over the past several months. And, as in Peters, all involved unlocked vehicles parked in residential driveways.

Bethel Park Detective Lance Mattis said juvenile allegations will be filed against two boys from Peters Township who are also involved in the Peters Township thefts. Both confessed, he said. One is 15 and the other is 16 years old, Mattis said.

The events in Bethel Park occurred the nights of Aug. 10 and 11, and Aug. 14 and 15. The boys will be charged with nine counts of thefts from vehicles and five counts of receiving stolen property.

Mackey advises drivers to “lock their cars and especially if they are leaving any valuables inside, but I don’t believe you should leave any valuables inside. Period.”

The 11 teens in the Peters Township incidents, including three who are adults, were charged after an Aug. 19 traffic stop for drunken driving turned up stolen items in the vehicle.

The 17-year-old driver was charged with DUI as well as theft and receiving stolen property.

The passenger, Jonathan Frings, 19, of 117 Breezewood Drive, Venetia. Frings was charged with burglary, in addition to theft, receiving stolen property and underage drinking, for using a garage door opener found inside a vehicle to enter the garage and steal beer. Frings remains in Washington County Jail.

From that traffic stop, police solved the eight-month string of vehicle thefts, which they believe were committed by the teens operating in two groups.

Charged by summons with misdemeanor offenses were Benjamin M. Kennell, 18, of 200 Sienna Trail, Eighty Four, and Jose M. Ortega, 18, of 670 Venetia Road, Venetia.

Juvenile allegations were filed against seven others under age 18, all from Peters Township except for one boy from Canonsburg.