Joann Knauff

CRANBERRY TWP — The 45-year-old woman arrested by township police and named as a suspect in a string of burglaries is facing 23 charges stemming from 10 alleged incidents.

Joann Knauff of Cranberry Township on Friday appeared before District Judge Dave Kovach and waived her charges, 13 felonies and 10 misdemeanors, to court.

They include burglary, theft from a motor vehicle, trespassing, loitering and prowling at nighttime and theft by unlawful taking.

She is accused by police of criminal activities at 10 addresses, including six burglaries and four trespassing or prowling incidents.

All the incidents were in the southwestern portion of the township, between Nov. 16 and Feb. 16 when she was arrested by township police for theft from a motor vehicle on East Commons Drive.

The total estimated value of the property she allegedly stole is more than $1,000, according to court records. At several addresses, she allegedly was loitering or attempting to enter, but did not take anything.

Knauff was arrested Feb. 16 when a woman called 911 and reported seeing an unknown female go into her car.

When officers arrived, they found Knauff allegedly in possession of medication prescribed in the name of the 911 caller, and she was placed under arrest.

In an interview with police, she allegedly admitted to all the crimes and told police that she was drug dependent.

She is in Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Knauff has multiple previous convictions in Butler and Beaver counties including theft, trespassing and loitering for the purposes of prostitution.

In 2011, she was sentenced to 36 months probation after pleading guilty to a count of felony access device fraud.