Residents reminded to lock cars after rash of thefts, arrest

Borough will study police merger

Irwin Mayor Bill Hawley has a warning for residents.

“This isn’t 1950s Mayberry anymore,” he said at last week’s council meeting after North Huntingdon police made an arrest in connection with vehicle thefts in Irwin, North Huntingdon and Duquesne.

He said Irwin police told him that half of the vehicles the suspect checked in Irwin were unlocked and four had the keys in them.

“Lock it, and certainly don’t leave the keys in it,” the mayor told residents.

Irwin police Chief Roger Pivirotto said North Huntingdon police arrested Joshua Badstibner of Duquesne on Oct. 3, and that he was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property in connection with vehicle thefts.

Chief Pivirotto said police are still looking for the man who was knocking on doors at 1 a.m. Oct. 10. The chief said it is not illegal for people to knock on doors late at night and that police just want to speak with the man to see what he wanted.

The chief also suggested that council sign an agreement with Manor police department to provide information for a study on whether the two boroughs should merge their police departments.

He noted that the agreement doesn’t commit Irwin to creating a joint police department. Council president John Cassandro said he will go with the chief to sign the agreement to do the study.

Council last week also approved a garbage collection rate increase, from $48.39 per quarter per residential unit to $50.52.

Council also approved setting the amount paid by residents to Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority for sewer service at $91.05 per quarter per residential unit.

Irwin also maintains its own sewer lines, and the total bill, including the $91.05 fee, will increase from $133.89 per quarter per residential unit to $141.39, borough manager Mary Benko said.