MIDDLESEX TWP — A township man is accused of stealing jewelry, silver coins and a handgun from his in-laws to feed his drug addiction.

Middlesex Township police on Sunday arrested 30-year-old Mark D. McCloskey on felony charges of theft and receiving stolen property. He is being held in the Butler County Prison on $20,000 bail.

Investigators said McCloskey was living with his wife and their daughter at his in-law’s house in the 400 block of Browns Hill Road when he recently stole the property valued at more than $5,000.

Police suspect he sold most of the jewelry belonging to his mother-in-law as well as the coins at different gold stores in Butler and Allegheny counties between Sept. 30 and Oct. 12.

A .38-caliber revolver taken from the house was never recovered.

Patrolman Bryan Costanzo said he traced the stolen jewelry and coins to the suspect, using receipts from the gold stores where he allegedly sold the items.

The officer on Sunday took McCloskey in for questioning. He initially denied wrongdoing, but when shown the evidence from the stores, he confessed, according to police.

“He said he did it because he was unemployed and did heroin,” Costanzo said.

McCloskey, who told authorities he previously worked for a tree-cutting business, denied taking the revolver.

His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 2 at the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg.