Murrysville woman charged after cashing $43,780 in stolen checks

Murrysville Police charged Patricia Lucas, 68, with theft by unlawful taking after investigators found 46 checks from a stolen checkbook were cashed between July 8 and August 10 for a total of $43,780. The victim reported the checkbook stolen in mid‑August and said Lucas — an acquaintance who recently helped with a move — cashed checks made out to Patricia or James Lucas with a similar signature. After the money was discovered missing, the victim messaged Lucas, who said she would repay the funds.