CRANBERRY TWP — A suspect caught Wednesday by police in Allegheny County previously admitted to stealing more than $56,000 in jewelry from a home in Cranberry.

Robert Russell Heigley, 21 of Gibsonia, Allegheny County, got caught after an elderly woman in Indiana Township snapped a picture of him breaking in to a neighbor’s home.

Indiana Township Police used that picture to capture the suspect, who was already well-known to police.

A police affidavit said Heigley worked at the home at 421 Canterbury Trail in Cranberry for several weeks over the summer. At the time he was employed by a subcontractor hired to do electrical work on a new addition there.

Both homeowners left the area on July 26 and returned on Aug. 2 to find the jewelry missing.

The affidavit said Heigley stole 23 pieces of jewelry, including two Rolex watches, wedding and engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, according to police records.

The investigation honed in on Heigley, who police said was known to them as having a heroin addiction. Police also tracked down several transactions between Heigley and a gold-buying company in Richland Township, Allegheny County.

During an unrelated interview with the Northern Regional Police Department in November, Heigley admitted to taking jewelry from the Cranberry home while also admitting to a robbery at a home in Hampton Township, Allegheny County.

Heigley on Friday waived his case to court in front of District Judge Dave Kovach in Cranberry. He is charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

According to the affidavit, Heigley was in the Butler County Prison unable to post bail.