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By DAVID WEISS dweiss@leader.net
Tuesday, January 25, 2000 Page: 6A
WYOMING – The owner of a Wyoming Avenue jewelry business Sunday night
chased a burglary suspect and returned him to the store to wait for police.
Police said the owner of the Wyoming Jewelry Exchange was in his apartment
above the store when he heard the sound of breaking glass downstairs.
“It shook the floor he hit it so hard,” said owner Dave Kopec. “I never
flew down the stairs so fast in my whole life.”
Kopec said he saw the suspect, later identified as William Bagielto,
walking away from the store carrying a bag and a hammer. Kopec said he later
found out Bagielto was walking away from the get-a-way car.
“He didn’t know where he was going,” Kopec said.
When Bagielto spotted the owner, he started running along the side of the
building, police said.
Kopec said he told the suspect to stop and he did.
“I was expecting some kind of struggle. He was larger than I was.”
Kopec said his wife ran across the street and called police, who were on
scene within a minute. He said Bagielto never tried to flee while they waited
for police to arrive.
Kopec suspected Bagielto was drunk. He said Bagielto continually repeated
that he needed money for food.
Kopec said he was surprised someone would try to burglarize a store so
close to the borough police station, which can be seen from the storefront.
Police charged Bagielto, 34, South Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre with one
count each of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was arraigned before
District Justice Diana Malast, Plain Township, and released on his own
recognizance.
Bagielto will face a preliminary hearing before District Justice Carmen
Maffei, West Pittston, at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2.
According to police:
At 9 p.m. Bagielto smashed the store’s window with a hammer and removed
four Geneua Water watches, valued at $125 each, from the showcase.
Call Weiss at 829-7242.