Alleged New Hope burglar previously arrested for stealing church poor box in Philadelphia

David Andrauskas was arrested for burlary and eluding police Saturday.

A Philadelphia man arrested in Bensalem Saturday in connection with a string of Bucks County business burglaries, including five in New Hope, was previously nabbed for stealing a church poor box last summer.

David Andrauskas, 37, of Northeast Philadelphia, had been arrested Aug. 31, 2019, and charged with theft and criminal mischief for ripping a charity box off the wall at St. Dominic Catholic Church in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia.

Police said he first tried to take money out of the box, but tore it from the wall after failing, and placed his jacket over it before walking out.

Surveillance photo from Philadelphia church charity box theft

Court records indicate Andrauskas had a history of burglary arrests going back to at least 2010.

He is being held in Bucks County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing after being charged Saturday with burglary and eluding arrest following a vehicle chase in Bensalem Saturday morning.

His arrest stemmed from a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a series commercial break-ins stretching from New Hope to Bristol Borough. Most of the businesses struck were everyday restaurants, with entry typically made through a window, and cash registers targeted.

New Hope experienced five burglaries in recent weeks, on Jan. 21, 25, and 31. The break-ins on the latter date included Jaffron Indian restaurant at 11 W. Bridge St., Lion’s Den Tattoo Studio on Ney Alley, and Surrender lingerie store on West Mechanic Street.

Photo from Bristol Borough Police of burglary suspect at Chuck’s BBQ

Bensalem Police have been investigating a Feb. 5 burglary at Belly Busters on Bristol Pike in which the actor forced open the bathroom window, made entry into the business, and removed cash and coins from two registers.

A burglar broke into Annabella’s Restaurant on Radcliffe Street in Bristol Borough on Feb. 6 and rifled through the cash register, which contained no money, then fled. A second burglary took place at Chuck’s BBQ on Pond Street.

Dominick’s Pizzeria in Washington Crossing was broken into Tuesday, Feb. 4, and Newtown Borough Police have been investigating commercial burglaries in the downtown business district during the early morning hours on Jan. 12, 18 and 23.