A Philadelphia man has been charged with targeting 21 small businesses in a string of overnight burglaries across seven Bucks County municipalities. David Anthony Andrauskas, 37, is accused of breaking into or attempting to break into businesses in Newtown Borough, New Hope Borough, Middletown Township, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township, Bensalem Township and Bristol Borough between Jan. 12 and Feb. 8 when he was arrested at his home.
His arrest came several hours after he fled an early morning traffic stop, leading Bensalem Police on a brief pursuit during which Andrauskas’s vehicle accelerated to speeds well in excess of 100 mph, a criminal complaint says. Officers during the stop had identified Andrauskas as matching the description of a man captured in still photographs committing a burglary at a business in the township three days prior.
Andrauskas’s vehicle, a silver 2001 Honda Accord missing a front hubcap, was also a match with the vehicle believed to be associated with the break in. Andrauskas sped away from the stop as officers attempted to detain him. Following his arrest in Bensalem, investigation implicated Andrauskas in a second burglary in the township as well as numerous break ins and thefts from businesses elsewhere in the county.
During the burglaries, investigators determined, Andrauskas broke open cash registers and left with the cash he found. He made off with $2,000 from one business, though his burglaries more often yielded a significantly smaller take if any cash at all. Andrauskas typically entered businesses between 1:30 a.m. and 3: 30 a.m. through a window by first removing an air conditioning unit or by otherwise breaking the window. He has been charged with burglary or attempted burglary of the following businesses on the following dates: New Hope Last Temptation, Jan. 21 Phantasm Comics, Jan. 25 Lion’s Den, Jan. 31 Surrender, Jan. 31 Night Bird Vintage, Jan. 31 Jaffron, Jan. 31 Bensalem Belly Busters, Feb. 5 Brodie’s Ice Cream, Feb. 4 Bristol Borough Annabella’s Restaurant, Feb. 6 Chuck’s BBQ, Feb. 6 Upper Makefield Township Dominick’s Pizza, Feb. 4 Newtown Borough Shoe Café, Jan. 12 Clark’s Florist, Jan. 18 Studio 35 Salon, Jan. 23 Middletown Township CJ Nails, Feb. 8 Giovanni’s Pizza, Feb. 8 Maple Deli, Jan. 28 Newtown Township Green Straw, Feb. 1 Newtown Pizza, Feb. 1 Be Bronzed, Feb. 1 Bella Med Spa, Feb. 1
Though charged separately by police in each jurisdiction, the cases against Andrauskas have been consolidated for prosecution. He is set for a preliminary hearing March 23 before District Judge Michael W. Gallagher. Andrauskas has been held in lieu of bail since his arrest Feb. 8. These cases were investigated by the New Hope Borough Police Department, Bensalem Township Police Department, Bristol Borough Police Department, Upper Makefield Township Police Department, Newtown Borough Police Department, Middletown Township Police Department and Newtown Township Police Department.