Published: November 04, 2009 12:58 am      

East Conemaugh resident arrested in burglary ring

JOHNSTOWN — Another man has been charged in connection with a burglary ring that allegedly engineered the theft of more than $55,000 in cash, electronics, prescription drugs, guns and bicycles in eight municipalities during the summer.

Richland Township police have charged Wesley Joseph Corbaci, 19, of East Conemaugh Borough.

Charges against Corbaci include 11 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, 14 counts of criminal conspiracy to loitering and prowling at night, and

11 counts of receiving stolen property.

Several adults and juveniles scoured neighborhoods between 2 and 6 a.m. on many days. They would rifle through unlocked vehicles, enter garages or climb on porches to seize items they could sell, police said.

Some of the stolen goods have been found, but police said they don’t expect to recover all of them.

In a court document, township police alleged that Corbaci entered numerous vehicles on

July 26 and 27 and made off with MP3 players, GPS units, DVD players and cash.

Corbaci also is accused of taking a firearm from a vehicle in Stonycreek Township. Police said he later disposed of it in Johnstown.

Corbaci has yet to be arraigned, but police said he admitted to his involvement.

He is the second adult to be arrested in connection with the thefts.

Richland and West Hills police charged Sean Thomas Crawley, 19, of Johnstown last month.

In all, two adults and two juveniles have been charged in connection with the burglary ring, West Hills police Sgt. George Musulin III said.

One more adult is expected to be charged, he said.