CENTER TWP — A suspected serial burglar was no mastermind.

His alleged crimes followed an unsophisticated pattern, according to investigators. Purely smash-and-grab.

The burglary spree targeted locally owned stores in the same business corridor that were closed for the night and that were close to his home.

He wasn’t looking for a big score.

The suspect — Donald J. Stewart, 33, of Center Township — was only looking for enough to feed his drug habit, state police said.

He claimed he was “high” when he struck.

Stewart, who has been in the Butler County Prison since July 9 on charges in just one break-in, was arraigned by video this morning on nine additional burglaries and two attempted burglaries.

The alleged crimes occurred between June 26 and July 7, all in Center Township’s business corridor that includes the 1600 and 1700 blocks of North Main Street Extension.

Police said Stewart has admitted to most of the burglaries. The others, he claimed he couldn’t recall, according to court documents, due to his drug-induced condition.

Troopers on patrol in the burglary-plagued business corridor nabbed Stewart about 2:30 a.m. July 9 after he appeared wearing dark clothes and gloves and toting a rubber mallet.

It didn’t take long before he admitted he had walked there from his home on Sunset Drive with the “intent to burglarize a business,” documents said.

He also confessed to having broken into the A Bella Salon on July 1 or 2 and taking a cash register. He allegedly took the machine because he was unable to break it open. The register had only $100 in it.

Later the morning of his arrest, in daylight, troopers drove the defendant around to identify the other stores he targeted.

Investigators said in recounting the crimes, Stewart confirmed evidence that police already had gathered.

His suspected burglaries had a similar and unimaginative theme.

He said after breaking into the A Bella Salon, he headed south to the nearby Dairy Queen restaurant. He broke out a window but was unable to get inside.

Next, he walked a short way to Twice Loved Appliances, where he again broke out a window.

“Stewart noted that there were too many passing cars and he never entered the business,” a police affidavit said.

Documents, however, accuse the suspect of stealing $750 from the store.

He later went to the Route 8 Car Wash, police said, and unsuccessfully tried to bust into the coin-operated vacuum machine. He also tried to force open a coin machine in front of the car wash. That attempt, too, failed.

Stewart told investigators he walked around the back of the China Gourmet restaurant and used a cinder block to break a window. He got inside and stole about $150.

His alleged burglary spree continued south in the business corridor, stopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. He smashed out a window and headed for the cash registers.

The machines, however, were empty, documents said.

Stewart moved on and hit the Prima Capelli Salon, once again breaking a window to make entry. He said he did not take anything the first time there.

But, police said, he claimed he returned a second time and stole money. Documents allege he took $450 from the salon.

“Stewart explained that he only broke into businesses once,” the police affidavit said, “unless he was ‘high’ and (doesn’t) remember.”

Investigators in court papers accused the defendant of breaking into the China Gourmet three times and Prima Capelli twice.

Additionally, he is charged with burglarizing the Jiffy Mini Mart.

The suspect told investigators that he was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crimes.

“Stewart related that he was looking for money for his next ‘fix,’” documents said.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton this morning arraigned the defendant on nine counts of burglary, seven counts of trespass, two counts of attempted burglary, three counts of theft and nine counts of criminal mischief.