WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) — A 27-year-old man from Brookhaven has been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries in West Chester over the summer.
Lawrence Dass is facing five counts of burglary and related charges after a string of break-ins that started on August 17, 2024. The first burglary occurred on South High Street, where Dass was caught attempting to steal a TV. When the homeowner confronted him, Dass fled by jumping out of a window, according to West Chester Police Chief Joshua Lee.
In the days that followed, at least four other burglaries were reported, including one where a police officer’s ballistic vest and badge were stolen while the officer was investigating another incident.
One of the victims, Abbi Brango, whose home was broken into on August 19, shared her fears after the crime. She found high-end cowboy boots, her Ring doorbell camera, and other personal items missing from her home. “I couldn’t sleep. We had barricades at our front door,” she said, expressing the fear of another break-in.
During the investigation, police discovered Brango’s stolen Ring camera with a bottle of juice beside it, which was swabbed for DNA. The DNA found on the camera was eventually linked to Dass.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe has raised concerns that Dass could be involved in other crimes and is urging anyone with information to come forward. “People who commit these burglaries often do more,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.
Dass is currently being held on a $50,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 21.
