Police arrest second man in theft of laptop

Police are looking for a man and woman connected with a theft from Macy’s in Eastwood Mall.

STAFF REPORT

NILES — A second man has been arrested in the Tuesday theft of a $1,700 laptop computer from Rent-A-Center, 5341 Youngstown-Warren Road.

David G. Harper, 27, of Gilbert Avenue, was arraigned Thursday in municipal court here on a felony charge of complicity to theft for allegedly assisting Nicholas P. Dagati, 26, of Summit Street.

Niles detectives and Police Chief Bruce Simeone said they did not know what role Harper played in the crime, which happened at 5 p.m. The officer who worked on the case was off duty Thursday.

Acting Judge John Gargano set bond for Harper at $5,000 and a preliminary hearing for 9:45 a.m. Monday.

Harper did not enter a plea to the charge, which could result in up to a year in prison if he’s convicted.

Dagati is charged with theft for allegedly walking out of the store with a laptop computer.

Dagati appeared in court Wednesday, where Gargano set bond at $5,000 and a preliminary hearing for 9:30 a.m. Monday. If convicted, Dagati could also get up to a year in prison.

According to a police report, Dagati walked into the store and asked about a laptop computer. A clerk showed him one valued at about $1,700.

The clerk answered a telephone call while Dagati was looking at the computer, and Dagati fled with the computer, police said.

The clerk followed Dagati into the parking lot and got a description of his vehicle and the license plate number, according to the report.

Niles police said Dagati was arrested later at a home in Girard, and Harper was arrested separately.

Court officials said Harper also was arrested on a warrant for not appearing in court on a misdemeanor driving-under-suspension charge.

Gargano set bond at $2,500 on that charge.

Police are also looking for a man who allegedly took clothing from the Macy’s Department Store in Eastwood Mall at about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Police were called to the store by store security, who reported that they captured a man in the parking lot they believed stole clothing from the store, but he got away when a woman approached and punched the security guard in the face.

The security guard was walking the theft suspect back to the store when a woman walked up and punched the guard in the face, police said.

The suspect then punched the security guard in the face several times also, police said.

The man and woman then fled in a silver vehicle and remain at large, police said.

Authorities are reviewing store videotapes for help in solving the crime, Simeone said.