BUTLER, Pa. -- State police said Tuesday that they believe a man arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence stole more than 200 items from vehicles in the last two months in Butler County.
A trooper who answered the phone at the Butler barracks said a search of Adam Harris' home uncovered more than 200 items that were reported stolen in recent weeks -- including firearms, money, medical supplies, a prom dress, a curling iron, cameras, CDs, laptops, Penguins and Steelers jerseys and cell phones.
"He had stolen a prom dress out of a vehicle and that prom dress was hanging in the trailer in full view," said Cpl. Cheryl Polena.
Police said they stopped the 27-year-old Harris at about 1 a.m. Friday and then searched his Connoquenessing home after they found tools in his car that could be used to break into vehicles.
"We were looking for his vehicle, and when it was spotted in the area, he was followed. After he committed a couple of traffic violations, he was pulled over," said Polena.
Police said the stolen items are worth a total of more than $20,000. They're allowing WTAE Channel 4 Action News to shoot video of the evidence, hoping people will identify and claim some of it.
The dress and the curler were returned to Alexandra DiMartino in time for her to attend the Butler Area Senior High School prom that night,
"Why would you steal a prom dress and a curler? I honestly couldn't figure that out," DiMartino's mother
told WTAE Channel 4's news exchange partners at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Police said they had an idea who they were looking for, based on calls about the reported thefts. They said they began an aggressive search for Harris' vehicle and followed it for a lengthy period until they stopped him for traffic offenses. When they saw some of the items in his car, they got a search warrant for his home and arrested him.
Harris was being held in the county prison on DUI and theft charges. It's not clear if he has an attorney.
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