Published Thursday, December 5, 2002
hidden, police say
Herald Staff Writer
When Patricia Samuels of Farrell left work at the Shenango Valley Mall on Nov. 12, she found the back passenger window of her car broken in.
She wasn't surprised -- mall security told her that her car had been broken into -- but the bill to fix her car after the theft, which netted about $3 in change, was shocking; it cost $400 to replace the window.
Two days later, during a break from work, she saw a man getting in a co-worker's car. She immediately had someone call 911 and someone else get security while she kept an eye on the person.
"He looked suspicious. I knew it wasn't his car because the employee that owns the car is a female and has girls. No guy should have gotten into her car, and then been trying to get into the backseat," Ms. Samuels said.
She said that when the man realized he had been seen, he began to run and she started to follow, but the store where she worked sent one of their security guards after him.
The security guard caught up with Brad Andrew Laverty, 23, of 1120 Weitz Ave., Farrell. Laverty was recently charged by Hermitage police with at least a dozen different vehicle break-ins between Nov. 8 and 14, including Ms. Samuels'. Laverty's case is headed to Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
"It only takes seconds," said Ms. Samuels, who had parked her car at 9 a.m. "By 11 a.m., mall security came and got me. I told them to quit playing with me, but they told me the police were on their way."
Ms. Samuels said she does things differently now when parking her car. She no longer keeps change in her car where it can be seen. "I keep it in my pocket now. Also the day when I was robbed, I was parked beside a big van. I won't park near a vehicle bigger than mine now, because they could duck down and hide between the vehicles."
In recent months there has been a rash of car break-ins in Hermitage parking lots, with the thieves getting away with cash, cell phones, compact discs and car stereos. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, people should take care to avoid falling prey to criminals, Hermitage police said.
Hermitage Police Chief Ed Stanton said a car was broken into Tuesday afternoon in a parking lot on South Hermitage Road. The left rear window was broken in to get to a purse that was in plain view, he said.
"That is something we try to emphasize to people. Keep your valuables covered," Stanton said.
Stanton said there are other things people can do to avoid being robbed. They include:
» Locking all doors.
» Putting packages and shopping bags in the trunk or under cover.
» Parking in well-lit areas.
» Avoid keeping compact discs and cassette tapes in the vehicle at one time.
» Keep loose change out of sight.
» Report all suspicious people and activities in parking lots.
Stanton said Ms. Samuels should be commended for calling police when she saw something going on. "It's citizens like her that help us solve these crimes," he said. "We couldn't do it without their help."
Ms. Samuels said she was just angry.
"There was no need for someone to do that. He had gotten three other people in the parking lot that day he got me. So when I saw someone try to break into my co-worker's car, I couldn't just let it happen to her," she said.