Moon Police Track Footprints to Car Break-in Suspect

Police in Moon Township tracked a series of boot prints left in freshly fallen snow to a man suspected of attempting to break into several vehicles in the Amherst Acres neighborhood. 

Eric Lingenfelter, 22, of Moon, has been charged with 37 counts of criminal attempt, in addition to prowling at night time and theft from a motor vehicle. 

A resident of Greenlea Drive reported to police that he saw fresh footprints in the snow outside of his home just before 6 a.m. March 25. 

Along the road, police observed a series of footprints leading from house to house in the neighborhood. The footprints approached cars parked outdoors at nearly 40 residences within the Amherst plan. 

Officer Brian Buydasz said the footprints bore a distinctive cross pattern. They were also accompanied by a dog's paw prints. 

Police spotted Lingenfelter with his dog standing outside of his Amherst Avenue home, wearing long pajamas and a pair of Timberland boots. 

The pattern on the soles of Lingenfelter's boots matched those of the prints left in the snow, police said in a criminal complaint. 

Lingenfelter took $5 and a few CDs from the cars in question, police allege. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 17.