Police Arrest 29-Year-Old Suspected in Multiple Armed Robberies

Ryan Dickinson

PLEASANT HILLS, PA – Police have arrested a 29-year-old male who is suspected to have committed multiple armed robberies in Pleasant Hills and Monroeville.

According to the Allegheny County Police Department’s General Investigations Unit, at approximately 7:50 p.m. on Friday, Pleasant Hills police officers were notified of an armed robbery that occurred at the BP Gas Station/7-Eleven convenience store located at 650 Clairton Boulevard.

“Pleasant Hills Police responded and found evidence of the robbery and requested the Allegheny County Police Department’s General Investigations Unit for assistance,” the ACPD said.

“An unknown male entered the convenience store, produced a black handgun, and demanded cash from an employee. The actor stole an unknown amount of US currency and fled the area. ACPD detectives learned that, shortly thereafter, a robbery occurred in West Mifflin, and later, an attempted robbery occurred in Monroeville, which resulted in an arrest of a male by Monroeville Police. ACPD detectives worked with multiple local law enforcement departments throughout the investigation,” police reported. “Detectives identified the person arrested by Monroeville Police, 29-year-old David Vankavelaar, of Clairton, as the suspect responsible for the armed robbery in Pleasant Hills.”


Vankavelaar was housed in the Allegheny County Jail when charged by Allegheny County Police with robbery, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person, as related to the incident in Pleasant Hills. West Mifflin Police are investigating the robbery in their jurisdiction.

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