The hearing for four people accused of stealing tattoo equipment and other items from Squirrelly's Skin Art Inc. at 218 S. Broad St., Grove City, in August was continued Wednesday and an ex-girlfriend of one of the defendants claimed that she turned them in because he had robbed her.

"It was just wrong. They had no right to do that," said Jennifer Schuller, 19, of Sharon.

Ms. Schuller is the former girlfriend of Shane Catrucco, 24, formerly of Sharon, who is charged with burglary, theft, criminal trespassing and conspiracy.

Facing the same charges are: Shawn Mihordin, 19, of 12 Applewood Lane, and Crystal L. Vaughan, 19, of 324 Brandy Springs Apartments, both Mercer; and Lemuel "Lee" Pineiro-Malick, 21, of 2939 Tamarack Drive, South Pymatuning Township.

The charges stem from a break-in that occurred between the evening of Aug. 20 and about noon Aug. 21.

Cash and items valued at more than $3,000 were taken, including almost $600, a pigment set, a tattoo machine and more than 200 compact discs in a case, police said, adding that the business was entered through a back door.

Ms. Schuller said she had thrown Catrucco out of her home during the summer after she discovered he had stolen her 4-year-old's videogame player and claimed he sold it to support a drug habit. Sharon police later had the item returned to her home, she said.

She claimed that she was still in touch with him during the time of the Squirrelly's burglary and heard him and his friends talking about new tattoo equipment they had acquired.

"I could have kept my mouth shut and done nothing. He robbed me as much as he robbed Squirrelly's. I figured (at the time) I wasn't getting my stuff back, but maybe Squirrelly could get his back," she said.