Skip to content Skip to Content

Couple charged with burglarizing 12 bars across Pittsburgh area, stealing $17K

By Madeline Bartos

Click here for updates on this story

    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A couple was charged with burglarizing a dozen bars across three western Pennsylvania counties, stealing thousands of dollars, state police announced on Thursday.

State police said Stephanie Hankle and David Rice burglarized bars in Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, causing $8,000 in damage and stealing over $17,000. They targeted businesses like The Dark Horse Saloon, Brenda Lee’s Bar, June Bug’s, Black Diamond VFW and Cloverleaf.

Police said Hankle would drive her boyfriend Rice to bars and after staking out the businesses, Rice would break in when they were closed. Investigators said they would also steal alcohol, and on one occasion, an entire ATM.

“It seems like they really tried to do their homework the best that they can and scout it out and space it out so it wasn’t easy to be tracked,” said Trooper Rocco Gagliardi. “They tried wearing gloves and doing this, that and the other, and without saying our full playbook, people who maybe want to commit these burglaries try to cross their t’s and dot their i’s but we have 24 more letters that we can investigate under and that’s how we were able to get them as suspects, get the interviews conducted and then the confessions from both individuals.”

Between cameras, footprints and forensics, Gagliardi said investigators had a “good bit” of evidence against the two.

“Once we showed them all the things at the table, the confession just came through,” he said.

The couple is facing a “laundry list” of felony charges, Gagliardi said. The investigation into the pair is still active, though police don’t believe they’re connected to any other burglaries in 2023.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.