Man Accused of Stealing Donation Jars

A Sewickley man arrested this week is accused of stealing charitable donation jars from several businesses across the Pittsburgh area, including Scott Township.

The jars contained loose change to help cancer patients and area volunteer fire departments.

Ohio Township police Chief Norbert Micklos said they arrested Michael Coyle, 33, of Sewickley, after he allegedly took the donation jar at a 7-Eleven on Neville Island on Jan. 20. Ohio Township police, who cover Neville Island, charged him with theft and receiving stolen property.

But Micklos said Coyle also confessed to similar thefts in Scott Township and Peters.

Scott Township police said a donation box was stolen from the counter at the Panera Bread along Greentree Road. The theft happened on Jan. 21, although it was not reported until the following day.

Coyle has not yet been charged in the theft at the Panera Bread in Scott Township.

Meanwhile, Peters Township police Capt. Michael Yanchak said they’re investigating whether Coyle really is the man who walked into the Panera Bread on Route 19 and took the change jar. Yanchak said they have not charged anyone yet, but “there is a presumption” that Coyle was involved in the Jan. 14 theft.

“They sure look like they should’ve been connected. It sure looks like it might be his photograph,” Yanchak said of the surveillance camera video from Panera in Peters. “We’re now trying to get the information from Ohio Township (police) and match everything up.”