Police say woman stole, sold items
ADAMS TWP — A Seven Fields woman had felony charges held for court Tuesday after allegedly stealing and selling various items from a township residence.
Harriette E. Blake, 53, was charged earlier this month stemming from an incident in September.
Blake was moving out of the Oak Lane home she had been renting after the house's owner had died in July.
The homeowner's mother began managing the estate, which included evicting Blake.
Items reported missing from the home included numerous DVD's, a computer, a wood burner, wedding silver, kitchen items and plastic storage containers from the basement. A plethora of other items also were listed missing, including a flat-screen TV, furniture and a surround- sound stereo, among others.
Blake told township police she took the DVD's, 126 in total valued at about $1,100, and had the plastic bins, according to police reports.
Police did not locate the other items when they searched Blake's new residence in Seven Fields.
Police later checked the Pennsylvania Precious Metals Portal for transactions by Blake and found that she had pawned a necklace reported missing at Treasure Hunt in Cranberry Township for $114.
In October, police were notified by an administrator for the Facebook group “Mars Swap Shop” that they had been contacted regarding Blake selling items reported stolen. Blake was banned from the Facebook group and contact information was given for persons who had purchased items from Blake.
One of the items sold was the missing wood burner. The unnamed person who bought the burner from Blake at the Oak Lane residence said they had done so in September for a total of $250.
Police then obtained a search warrant for Facebook records to locate Blake's account which was used to sell the items.
One conversation found included a transaction between Blake and a buyer in September for a mini refrigerator for $125. The address given was the Oak Lane residence.
Police reports state that the total value of the items sold, attempted to sell or possessed was about $3,626.
Numerous items are still missing and police have been unable to find evidence linking Blake to them.
Blake denied having a hand in the items other than the DVD's and plastic bins.
“It is clear that Blake is in the business of selling stolen items,” police reports state. “Blake has used several different methods to sell or attempt to sell items that were stolen.”
Blake faces three felony charges of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal use of a communication facility.
Blake will be arraigned in county court on June 6. Her bail is set at $3,000.
