Keith R. Smith

Another case has been added to the repertoire of a Cranberry Township man accused of driving his customers’ cars without their permission instead of repairing them.

A misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of motor vehicles creates a sixth case against Keith R. Smith, 66, owner of Oilology in Cranberry Township.

Vehicles of more than 10 customer are involved the allegations against Smith.

Cranberry Township police filed the most-recent charge Wednesday, April 19, after a customer accused Smith of driving the vehicle thousands of miles without her permission.

The woman said she towed her 2004 Honda Civic to Oilology in September 2022 to have the brake lines fixed and an inspection. She paid $300 for the work and received her vehicle a month later.

Police said the customer brought her vehicle back to the shop Oct. 19, 2022, for recurring brake and transmission issues. She then received an invoice showing her vehicle had been driven on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Oct. 27 through 29.

License plate readers showed the Civic being driven from Oct. 20 to 29 in Adams, Cranberry, Butler and Middlesex townships, as well as Seven Fields, Glenshaw, Wexford, New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Tarentum, Monroeville, Springdale and North Versailles.

Police said an estimated 3,254 miles were placed on the customer’s vehicle while it was in Smith’s possession.

Smith is scheduled to appear May 19 for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Kevin Flaherty.

On April 14, Smith appeared for preliminary hearings on two of his cases and was arraigned for three additional cases.