2 charged, others sought in reported State College burglaries

An investigation into a series of burglaries in the State College borough have led to one arrest and numerous charges against a series of individuals suspected of perpetrating the acts.

According to the criminal complaint filed by State College police, officers were dispatched May 15 to the 300 block of South Burrowes Street for a report of several burglaries. Halfmoon Realty reported finding smashed windows along several properties, along with signs of entry into several apartments and missing or stolen property.

Officers observed basement windows, entrance door windows and first floor windows shattered, police said. Four separate apartments or buildings had reportedly been entered.

The next day, officers responded to a report of an attempted robbery along South Burrowes, police said. Two individuals were taken into custody near the scene, and further investigation led to the arrest of two more individuals, including Anthony L. Mittleman, 18, of State College.

During the ongoing investigation, officers interviewed Mittleman, police said, who allegedly admitted to being involved in several burglaries along the 300 block of South Burrowes with four other individuals, including Alexander F. Bucknavage, 18, of State College. Mittleman reportedly stated he was with these other individuals in the early morning hours of May 15 when they smashed several windows to enter the residences or entered through unlocked doors and windows.

Mittleman allegedly admitted to taking property from some of the residences, including phones, jewelry and other items he carried out in a teal-colored crate, police said.

Officers responded to a reported burglary May 20, police said, in which the resident reported several stolen items including an Apple iPhone 7, jewelry, clothing and a teal-colored crate.

A warrant was obtained for one of the suspect’s apartments, police said. A search revealed the crate, which was reportedly identified by the owner. Officers also learned the suspect had recently moved out and may have fled the area.

Officers spoke with Bucknavage on May 22, police said, who allegedly admitted to being involved in the burglaries with Mittleman and three others. Bucknavage reported that they had met up in the early hours of May 15 where one told the group that “the Penn State students were gone for the summer and there were some houses they could enter.”

He reported that he and Mittleman had entered all the residences, police said, while the others entered some and stood as look-outs for others. He reportedly admitted he and Mittleman had taken a pair of fire extinguishers and Mittleman took a crate of items from the last residence they entered.

Officers took Bucknavage to the burglary scenes, police said, where he was able to walk through each one in the order it was committed and how they were entered.

Six separate burglaries were documented, police said. Forensic evidence was collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police laboratory for processing.

Halfmoon Realty estimated the cost for glass replacement and cleanup was more than $1,400, police said. The resident in the final burglary reported more than $1,700 in losses.

Bucknavage was arraigned Monday before District Judge Carmine Prestia, according to court documents, and charged with numerous felony counts of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal trespassing. He also faces misdemeanor counts of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Unsecured bail was set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is slated for July 5.

Mittleman also faces charges of burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespassing, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, according to court documents. A preliminary arraignment is still pending.

Charges are pending on the remaining individuals named by Mittleman and Bucknavage, court documents indicate. Warrants have been issued for their arrests, police said.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 12:05 PM with the headline "2 charged, others sought in reported State College burglaries."