Phone theft, suspicious encounter reported in Bethel Park

BETHEL PARK, PA — The Bethel Park Police Department responded to two separate incidents this past week, including a phone theft and a suspicious encounter on the Montour Trail.

On Thursday, April 23, at about 7:30 p.m., officers were called to the area of Apache Road after receiving a report of a stolen cellular phone.

According to police, four teenage males left South Hills Village and headed toward the neighborhood behind Petco to arrange a ride share service.

During this time, a juvenile victim spoke with the group, and one of the juveniles asked to borrow the victim’s phone to order a ride.

When the ride share vehicle arrived, the individual who borrowed the phone left in the car, taking the device without permission.

There was no physical contact, and the victim was not injured.

Police, with help from the Pittsburgh Police Department, later recovered the stolen phone at a residence in Pittsburgh.

A juvenile suspect has been identified, and charges for theft by unlawful taking will be filed in Juvenile Court.

Because minors are involved, no names will be released.

On Friday, April 24, around 8:00 p.m., police were called to the Montour Trail near the Limestone Drive entrance after a woman reported a suspicious encounter.

The woman told officers she was walking her dog toward Peters Township when an unknown man approached her, began talking, and complimented her.

The man then reached to touch her arm, but her dog responded by lunging at him, causing him to flee down the trail toward Peters Township.

A witness stayed with the woman until police arrived.

The man was described as about 18–22 years old, with medium-length black hair, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds, with a light brown skin tone.

He was last seen wearing a grayish-white shirt, tan shorts, and possibly clear glasses.

This incident remains under investigation.