A burglar out on parole for stealing cash and Italian food from a Forks Township restaurant is accused of returning to the same eatery and breaking in for booze.
Charged is 31-year-old Maurice Anthony Greene, of the first block of North Sixth Street in Easton.
Greene, then homeless, in September was charged with burglarizing deLorenzo's Restaurant, 3417 Sullivan Drive, Forks Township. In that crime, Greene allegedly stole veal chops and shrimp stuffed into plastic bags, as well as additional bottles of booze, two scissors, a flashlight and prosciutto.
He also made off with $194 worth of cash from the register, as well as the key to the register, according to police. The total value stolen was $606, police said.
Court records indicate Greene recently was released on parole for the September crime.
Police at 12:18 a.m. Wednesday returned to deLorenzo's Restaurant to investigate a burglar alarm. Investigators found an overturned bucket below a partially opened window and fresh footprints in a dusting of snow near a back deck, according to police.
A K-9 unit was dispatched and Betebet a search was conducted inside the restaurant with no one found. Cheryl Yannuzzelli, owner of deLorenzo's Restaurant, reported to police nothing was missing from the eatery.
She was able to determine from the alarm company the burglar entered the restaurant, tripped the motion sensor and left about 14 second later through a back door.
Burglar swipes liquor, prosciutto from Italian restaurant, cops say
An officer at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday stopped Greene in the 800 block of Uhler Road. Greene initially denied to police entering deLorenzo's Restaurant, but then allegedly admitted to breaking in.
Greene in an interview with investigators said he intended to steal a bottle of alcohol to settle a debt with someone he owed money to, according to police. The alarm spooked Greene and he ran, he allegedly told police.
Greene is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and attempted theft in Wednesday's crime. He was arraigned before District Judge Alicia Zito, who set bail at $150,000.
In lieu of bail, Greene was taken to Northampton County Prison. The judge ordered Greene to stay away from deLorenzo's Restaurant.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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