Westmoreland County police are currently investigating a series of brazen thefts from skill game machines across Pennsylvania. A trio of men, characterized as an organized crime ring, has targeted these entertainment devices, successfully looting an estimated total of $200,000. According to WTAE, one of these thefts occurred at the Mount Pleasant Express on West Main Street, resulting in a loss of $20,000 in one fell swoop.
Reports suggest that during their most recent heist, the group was not simply taking chances on the games but systematically exploiting the machines. Police have apprehended Brian Oliver, 23, from Georgia, in connection with these crimes. Despite his capture, two of his alleged accomplices remain at large. The group might be linked to similar incidents at approximately two dozen other gas stations throughout the Commonwealth, placing them at the center of a broader criminal pattern.
Heather Paul, an employee at Mount Pleasant Express, recounted the event to CBS News Pittsburgh. During the incident, she was distracted by one of the suspects. "Occupied my time playing the lottery, asking me questions about certain products," Paul said. "At that time, I realized he was distracting me." This distraction allowed the other suspects to manipulate the skill game machines and extract the cash intended for legitimate winners.
The suspected criminals executed their escape in a vehicle described by the authorities as a 2023 black Jeep Cherokee, bearing the Illinois license plate FP232800. The woman, believed to be involved as the getaway driver, narrowly avoided having their license plate recorded after store personnel were alerted to get the license plate number, but backed out of the parking lot, according to the investigators.
Tips that can assist in the ongoing investigation and apprehension of the remaining suspects are highly encouraged. The public can contact the police at 724-547-7210 or by dialing 911 for any immediate sightings of the suspects or the mentioned getaway vehicle.
