DNA links Harrison man accused of burglary to 2 other business break-ins, police say
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A man arrested on charges that he broke into an auto repair shop was accused of burglarizing two nearby businesses on the same day after his DNA matched droplets of blood found at all three scenes, according to Harrison police.
Mark Bauer, 61, of the 200 block of Summit Drive in Harrison was charged with two counts of burglary and a count of receiving stolen property, which are felonies. He also faces two counts each of misdemeanor theft and criminal mischief and a count of receiving stolen property.
Bauer was being detained in the Allegheny County Jail after a judge denied his bail during a March 20 arraignment hearing. He faces a preliminary hearing on the charges before District Judge Carolyn Bengel on Wednesday, May 3, according to court records.
Police wrote in a criminal complaint that officers were dispatched July 22 for a report of three businesses that were burglarized overnight.
Investigators determined that Della’s Frozen Custard in the 5000 block of Freeport Road was the first business hit when a burglar broke a window and took money out of the cash register, the complaint said.
The thief also broke a window to get into the Harbison Nursery in the 4000 block of Freeport Road, where money was stolen out of the register, according to the complaint.
Police said they were able to arrest Bauer for breaking into Freehling Service in the 2900 block of Freeport Road but were not immediately able to tie him to the other two burglaries, the complaint said.
The Allegheny Crime Scene Unit responded to the scenes and collected blood droplets that were found inside and outside the buildings at all three locations, police said.
A saliva swab was taken from Bauer while he was in custody that matched the DNA from the blood found at the scene, police said.