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Arrest made in Boardman jewelry store case
YOUNGSTOWN
The man who police believe is responsible for at least one jewelry store heist in Boardman is in the custody of Pennsylvania parole officers.
The officers took custody of Norman Harvey, of Gregory Street, Aliquippa, Pa., on two warrants at his apartment Tuesday, according to a release from Boardman police.
Harvey is charged with aggravated burglary in the Aug. 18 incident at Cirelli Jewelers on Market Street in which he purportedly attempted to steal nearly $100,000 worth of jewelry, but which he dropped after the business owner shot him.
Boardman police identified him as a suspect, Detective Sgt. Glen Riddle says, because Harvey’s criminal history caught up with him.
“It was a Pennsylvania state trooper that told us he was familiar with this guy,” Riddle said. Beaver Falls, Pa., police notified Boardman police after Harvey showed up at a medical center seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to the hand.
“He gave them a bogus story about getting shot in the hand at a Dollar Tree,” Riddle said. “And then his parole officer ID’d him from pictures we sent him.”
Police believe Harvey is responsible for other crimes in Boardman.
He is charged with theft for purportedly making a fraudulent return at a Lowe’s store in the township Aug. 1. Riddle said Harvey then went later that day to scope out Cirelli Jewelers, which is caught on video surveillance.
Detectives believe Harvey then robbed Tele-Gold, another Market Street jewelry store. That business reported Aug. 1 that someone got away with nearly $8,000 worth of items. Harvey is not charged in that case.
Township police do not believe Harvey is connected to a third Boardman jewelry store robbery that occurred Aug. 20 at Direct Jewelry Outlet on U.S. Route 224.