Knauff

CRANBERRY TWP — A woman has been arrested in connection with the recent string of burglaries in the township.

Joann Knauff, 45, of Cranberry Township was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday by township police at a house in the area of Haine School Road, according to a news release.

She is charged with burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking and loitering and prowling at nighttime from alleged crimes committed Feb. 11. She is in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bond.

The police on Tuesday announced they were seeking a petite woman who had taken cash and prescription drugs from multiple homes in the southwestern area of the township since November.

Knauff had been a suspect in six burglaries in the township, according to the release.

Police were dispatched Tuesday night 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.

Knauff was then interviewed by police and allegedly admitted to involvement in numerous crimes including the two most recent burglaries.

On Feb. 11, she allegedly took a wallet, credit cards, $150 in cash, prescription pills and a laptop computer from two houses in the 200 block of Sherwood Drive, according to the criminal complaint.

She allegedly told police she takes prescription painkillers and does not remember everything she takes. She also admitted attempting to enter other houses in the neighborhood that night and was caught and questioned by an elderly person who had reported the encounter to police.

Knauff did not tell police where the stolen items were and said she often just threw items away.

The police plan to file additional charges for the alleged theft from a motor vehicle Tuesday and also the previous burglaries, said Sgt. Chuck Mascellino, department spokesman.

Police believe she acted alone, he said.

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.