Two Face Charges in String of North Hills Burglaries

A 29-year-old West View woman and a 24-year-old Bellevue man are responsible for a string of burglaries in early December in the North Hills, including three in Ross Township and one in West View Borough, according to criminal complaints filed by Ross, West View and Northern Regional police. 

Brittanny Jenkins, of 213 Ridgewood Avenue and Erik Sigal, of 917 Moravian Way, face upcoming preliminary hearings before in West View. They face charges related to the local burglaries, which police said took place between Dec. 8-12 and involved homes on Teal Trace Road, Idaway Drive and 13th Street in Ross and on Ridgewood Avenue in West View. 

The pair worked together to steal items that could be pawned or sold on the street in order to raise money for their drug habits, according to the court records. 

Jenkins helped Sigal, who was unfamiliar with Ross Township, pick out neighborhoods to burglarize and drove him around to select the homes, Sigal told police, according to the complaints.

Sigal also told investigators that Jenkins waited in the vehicle while he entered the homes and looked for electronics, money or jewelry to take. Jenkins later pawned the items, Sigal told police. 

Items taken from the Ross and West View homes included an antique pocketwatch, earrings, necklaces, a military pendant, televisions, a Nintendo Wii gaming systems and related equipment, football cards, DVDs, and a Microsoft XBox console.

All of the burglaries occurred during the day while the residents were away, according to police. 

The cash the burglars earned was used to purchase heroin, Sigal told police. 

Sigal is being charged with three felony counts of burglary by . West View Police have charged him with one felony count of burglary, a felony count of conspiracy, and one misdemeanor counts each of criminal mischief and theft. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11 before the judge. 

Jenkins is being charged with three felony counts of criminal conspiracy by Ross Township Police. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22. 

The two also face similar charges in at least three other burglaries in Marshall, Reserve and Ohio townships.

Sigal and Jenkins have not been charged in an Oct. 31 burglary reported in West View, also on Ridgewood Avenue. West View police have said they believe that incident is an unrelated case.