Teen Arrested In Series Of West End Pizza Delivery Driver Robberies
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Police arrested a teenager in connection with a series of armed robberies involving pizza delivery drivers.
According to court paperwork, Kieran Ford, 17, of McKeesport, admitted to his role in three hold-ups in Pittsburgh's West End back in July and August.
Investigators say Ford allegedly used an app on his cellphone to order a pizza, gave a fake address to a vacant home and then robbed the delivery drivers at gunpoint when they showed up.
Police say Ford lured a delivery driver to an abandoned house on Janewood Way in Elliot in the first incident in July. A neighbor says he tried to warn the driver.
Ford and another suspect, identified as DeAndre Jackson, were wearing "Iron Man" masks when they took $40 from the driver, police said.
The second robbery also happened in July. A driver from Pizza Parma says Ford called him to a vacant house on Bucyrus Street also in Elliot.
Police say they didn't get any money, but they stole a more than $100 pizza order. Police say video surveillance cameras in the area captured images of the suspects.
Meanwhile, during the third robbery in August, the suspects are accused of luring a Pizza Hut delivery driver back to the same home on Bucyrus Street. They approached a driver, allegedly demanding money and got away with $15. This time, police had a possible ID on Ford, and detectives followed him to a home on Uvilla Street, believed to be his residence.
They also obtained a search warrant and found that the app on his cellphone contained the numbers he used to order pizzas.
Ford was also wanted for violating juvenile probation. On Thursday, police say he was located and arrested at Brashear High School.
He is facing a list of charges including, robbery, conspiracy, simple assault and possession of a firearm by a minor. He's being charged as an adult.
Ford is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.