Owner’s relatives charged in store thefts
The aunts of South Union Township convenience store owner were charged with stealing 55 cartons of cigarettes, bags of money and a surveillance system from his store – and then staging a robbery because they were worried he would catch them. Patricia Howard, 62, and Brenda J. Martin, 66, both of Uniontown, worked at BB’s Market on Route 40 on Nov. 1, 2003, when they told state police that two men came in wearing Halloween masks and demanded money.
In reality, police charge that Jeneen A. Christopher, 37, of Brier Hill and Nikki L. Brown, 33, and Deanna Marie Martin, 40, both of Uniontown, crafted that plan with the women to cover up the thefts.
Trooper James A. Pierce said that Patricia Howard and Brenda Martin told police in 2003 that the supposed gun-toting robbers also stole money from the cash register and numerous digital video discs from the store.
That led police to surround a nearby Hopwood hotel because they thought the alleged made-up robbers were holed up inside.
But a tip in March changed the direction of the case.
Police said they got information that the robbery was set by the Martins and Howard “because (Brenda) Martin and (Patricia) Howard were stealing money and items from the store while owner Mark Howard was on vacation and (were) worried about being caught on the store’s surveillance system.”
All told, Pierce alleged the women stole $18,985 in money and items.
Police interviewed Deanna Martin, Brown and Christopher and each said that Brenda Martin and Patricia Howard set up the robbery, police said.
Brenda Martin and Patricia Howard were charged with conspiracy to commit theft and false reports to police and the other three women were charged with theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy to commit theft.
Pierce said that the women will be arraigned in the next few days, and noted that Brown is currently in the State Correctional Institution at Muncy in Lycoming County.