Bethel Park police say they nabbed the man who tried to rob the Sunoco on Route 19 at gunpoint right before Thanksgiving.

The detective on the case also believes the suspect is connected to the Subway robbery in Castle Shannon, along with robberies in Coraopolis, Bellevue and Ben Avon.

At this time, Dean Pletz, 44, of Bethel Park, is charged with one count of robbery and one count of persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms. The Allegheny County District Attorney's office is expected to file more charges against Pletz.

During the attempted robbery investigation, information was received from other police agencies and video evidence generated Pletz as the suspect, according to the criminal complaint filed in district Judge Robert Wyda's office.

Pletz was brought to the Bethel Park Police Department for questioning on Nov. 29 after Mt. Lebanon police pulled over him and his Upper St. Clair girlfriend during a traffic stop.

The attempted robbery at the Sunoco on Route 19, located next to the Upper St. Clair border, happened on Nov. 21. The new employee couldn't get the cash register open, so the suspect did not get away with any cash.

Pletz verbally admitted to the Sunoco and Subway robberies, according to the detective. It remains unclear if he will be considered a suspect in the Bethel Park Dairy Queen robbery.

Pletz has been arrested and convicted of robbery in the past, according to the complaint.

Guilty Plea
Jinhua Chen, 21, of Brookline, agreed to plea guilty to retail theft on Monday. She chose to spend five days in the Allegheny County Jail instead of paying fines and court fees. Security officers at Sears at South Hills Village accused Chen of stealing clothing worth about $130 on Sept. 3.

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