Man charged with stealing sports gear
CRANBERRY TWP — A 12-time shoplifter was arrested again on a pair of unrelated arrest warrants for allegedly stealing or trying to steal more than $7,000 worth of Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins merchandise from two stores.
Cranberry Township police Friday arrested Frank R. Novak Jr., 33, of Pittsburgh. District Judge Sue Haggerty later arraigned him on multiple felony counts each of retail theft and receiving stole property.
Novak is also charged with defiant trespass, a misdemeanor. He is in Butler County Prison on $30,000 bail.
Police had been looking for Novak since Jan. 17, when they got their first arrest warrant for him.
In that case, according to court documents, he is accused of taking a combined $6,886.45 in merchandise at the same Walmart on Route 19 on two separate days, Jan. 9 and 11.
Each time, police said, Novak used a trash can from the store to gather up the items.
The first time, Novak allegedly made his getaway with items valued at $2,240.89 in a pickup truck driven by an unknown woman.
His return trip two days later did not go as smoothly, documents said.
On the second go-around, Novak apparently got nervous, police said, and abandoned the trash can filled with merchandise worth $4,645.56, before fleeing in the same pickup.
Police on Jan. 25 obtained their second arrest warrant for Novak stemming from a Nov. 20 incident at the Target on Route 228, where he tried to make off with $773.64 in Steelers and Penguins goods.
He is accused of putting the items in a storage tote he got from the store. But when he noticed an employee watching him, he ditched the tote and fled.
While investigating the incidents, police said they spoke to Pittsburgh police, who were familiar with the defendant.
Cranberry police were advised that “when there are significant sporting events Novak will steal sports merchandise and sell it in the Strip District.”
Charging documents noted that he has 12 prior retail theft convictions.
