ADAMS TWP — A Beaver County man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing $9,000 from his girlfriend’s grandparents’ house.

Nicholas C. Sotiriou, 23, of New Brighton was arrested and arraigned in Evans City on a felony theft by unlawful taking charge. He was placed in Butler County Prison on $5,000 bail.

On Tuesday, Krista and Ed Kuhl reported that $9,000 in cash had recently gone missing from a dresser drawer in their house, according to the criminal complaint filed by township police.

The couple reported no signs of forced entry and noted that they have a German shepherd guard dog. The only other people who had been in the house were their granddaughter Kylie Goldstrohm and her boyfriend Sotirou.

When questioned by police Sotirou initially denied taking the money, but he allegedly admitted to the theft after being told that a gun from the drawer would be checked for his fingerprints.

He allegedly spent $200 at Walmart and had deposited some of the money into various bank accounts.

Before being taken to jail, Sotirou was escorted by police to his apartment so he could return some of the money. He returned $6,200 and the rest will be returned or paid in restitution, according to the complaint.

Goldstrohm signed a written statement saying that she had no knowledge that the money was stolen. She is not charged.