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Two Charged in Vehicle Thefts, One at Large
Men also suspected in Missouri, Kentucky crimes
By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
March 27, 2025
Posted in: Crime and Police News
Allegheny County police are seeking Angelo E. Nanculeo, 27, shown here in surveillance photos, in connection with a series of thefts from vehicles in White Oak Park. (Submitted photos)
Two men have been charged in connection with a series of thefts from vehicles parked at White Oak Park, and one of them remains at large.
Police described the suspects as part of an interstate crime ring that stole credit and debit cards from vehicles, then used them to purchase items fraudulently.
Matias Montes-Vega, 26, of Miami, Florida is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond pending a preliminary hearing April 7 before Magisterial District Judge Thomas Miller Jr. in White Oak.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of an alleged accomplice, Angelo E. Nanculeo, 27, no address listed, who also is charged by Allegheny County Police.
Published reports state that both men are Chilean nationals and have been linked to similar crimes in other states, including Missouri and Kentucky. Police in Missouri told a local television station that Nanculeo, Montes-Vega and a third man are suspects in vehicle thefts and credit card frauds across the United States.
According to a criminal complaint, on March 11 and 12, multiple people called police to report that items had been stolen from their cars at White Oak Park on March 10. In several cases, vehicles had been left unlocked, or the windows had been left down, according to police.
Police said victims reported that credit and debit cards, as well as cash, were taken and subsequently used at Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart. The total losses were in excess of $10,000, police said.
The criminal complaint states that county police obtained surveillance footage from Sam’s Club in Monroeville and Walmart in North Versailles Twp. that shows two men attempting to use stolen credit and debit cards to make purchases.
Police said they identified the suspects in the videos as Montes-Vega and Nanculeo.
According to the complaint, county police also determined the men were driving a silver Honda SUV that had been linked by authorities in Kentucky to a series of vehicle break-ins in the Louisville area.
Police said Upper St. Clair and Peters Twp. police spotted the Honda on March 11 and stopped it, taking Montes-Vega into custody.
Nanculeo remained at large on Wednesday.
Montes-Vega is charged by Allegheny County police with eight counts of access device fraud as well as criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle.
He faces additional charges from Bethel Park police in connection with thefts that occurred July 19 and Dec. 14, 2024, according to court records.
In a press release, a county police spokesperson urged residents to make sure to lock their vehicles and to not leave any valuables inside.
“Thieves are known to target vehicles in public places, and they aren’t afraid to break into locked vehicles,” county police said. “If you see something suspicious, please call 9-1-1.”
Originally published March 27, 2025.
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