Dean Krelko

BUTLER TWP — A township man proved to be not so neighborly.

Butler Township police said 56-year-old Dean R. Krelko broke into his neighbor's apartment in Lyndora this week and helped himself to a pair of televisions, a mini fridge and printer.

Officers later forced their way into Krelko's apartment on the 600 block of Hansen Avenue, according to court documents, where they found their sleeping suspect — and some of the stolen items.

He was arrested Tuesday and arraigned the next day on felony charges of burglary and trespass and misdemeanor charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

Police also arrested him on an unrelated protection from abuse violation. He remains in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Police made quick work of the investigation after getting the call for the alleged break-in, which they believed happened about 11 p.m. Monday.

A witness reported seeing a man taking property from the victim's apartment, investigators said. The witness only knew the man as “Dean,” but also knew he lived in an apartment there.

“Dean” claimed to be the maintenance man and told the witness that he was treating the victim's apartment for bed bugs.

The next day, the suspicious witness informed the victim what he had seen. The victim then notified police.

Officers checked her apartment door and found “tool marks from a pry tool or screwdriver,” documents said. The marks were around the door knob mounting.

The weather stripping around the door frame also appeared to have been tampered with, likely by a pry tool or screwdriver.

The victim told officers that she was missing a 55-inch TV and a 32-inch TV, a compact refrigerator and a printer. The property had a combined value of between $200 and $2,000, documents said.

Officers spoke to the landlord and got more information on “Dean,” who they believed was Krelko. Investigators subsequently got a search warrant for the defendant's apartment.

Additionally, they brought with them a complaint against the suspect for indirect criminal contempt after he allegedly violated his ex-girlfriend's PFA order.

The violation occurred Monday, court records showed, when he confronted his former girlfriend at her apartment in Lyndora.

Police said that when they knocked on Krelko's door and got no answer, they forced their way in. They found him lying on a bed,

They also found the suspected stolen mini fridge and printer. Additionally, they found a screwdriver.

Police seized the stolen items and returned them to the victim's apartment.