Man accused of 5 more burglaries

State College resident in jail on new charges

By Sara Ganim

STATE COLLEGE — The State College man who police said was arrested after being caught in the act of robbing a man in his home earlier this month has been charged with five more burglaries over the same weekend in the same neighborhood.

Adam J. Parrott, 23, was sent to jail on $175,000 cash bail by District Judge Jonathan Grine on Wednesday, after police charged him with a string of burglaries on South Allen Street, South Pugh Street, East Prospect Avenue, East Hamilton Avenue and a nearby alley.

State College police arrested him June 7 after a man reported that Parrott poked his head into the bedroom where the man was sleeping, then ran out of the house.

The man, who later discovered his television was taken, chased Parrott after watching him try to break into another residence minutes later, police said.

Parrott ran to a neighboring building’s basement, police said. They caught him a short time later and Wednesday confirmed they linked him to three other burglaries and two attempted burglaries.

In two cases, residents were home and came into contact with Parrott, police said.

“Those, by their very nature, are more alarming to me,” said State College Capt. Dana Leonard. “Because there is an increased chance of a confrontation.”

Days before, a man had reported that he was sleeping in bed when a burglar who police say was Parrott entered his bedroom and began unplugging a game system on his dresser.

When the man confronted him, police say Parrott raised a baseball bat and threatened him, then fled.

Another woman told police that someone trashed her home, rummaging through her things. She told police some items, a stereo, speakers and CD were thrown into her yard.

An upstairs window was broken, food was all over her kitchen and items were in her toilet, she told police. Electronics were also taken, police said.

When police arrested Parrott, they said, he had an odor of alcohol on his breath.

Police linked Parrott to the burglaries after executing four search warrants on his home, which was near those of the burglary victims. Several stolen items were recovered, police said.

Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616.