Suspect faces more charges
The list of cases keeps growing against one of Butler County's most prolific suspected burglars in recent memory.
Butler police Tuesday charged Andrew Leroy Perry, 27, with four more break-ins.
Perry now stands accused of 15 home burglaries between Oct. 1 and Nov. 24 in Butler and Butler Township. He has confessed to every one, say investigators.
But that number could rise. State police might be looking to connect him to still other burglaries.
Perry has been in the Butler County Prison since Nov. 24 when he was jailed for a probation violation. But investigators by then already had him on their radar for a list of daylight break-ins
Similarities in the crimes such as time, location and manner, also suggested one burglar was responsible.
According to court documents, Perry is accused of these break-ins in Butler:
n 436 Charles St., where a $200 gold ring, $30 in currency and $20 in scratch-off Lottery tickets were stolen between Oct, 1 and Nov. 24.
• 817 Belmont Road, where $250 in currency and coins was taken between Oct, 1 and Nov. 24.
n 248 E. Fulton St., where $50 in coins was taken Nov. 18.
• 524 Fifth St., where a class ring and $200 in currency and coins were taken Nov. 20.
Preliminary hearings in the four Butler cases are set for Monday.
Butler Township police on Dec. 17 filed their first burglary case against Perry. Last week, they filed eight more, bringing to 11 the number of cases in the township.
Township Detective Dave Fish said Perry got away with more than $10,000 in loot in those break-ins.
Investigators suspect Perry chose the homes that he knew were unoccupied. He got in through unlocked windows or doors, city and township police said.
His "shopping list," investigators said, had two primary items: jewelry and money.
Police believe he sold the jewelry at pawn shops and jewelry stores. Only a small amount of the property has been recovered.
A drug addiction, police said, possibly motivated Perry's alleged crime spree.
