A Northeast man has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly burglarizing more than 20 homes in various Montgomery County communities between March 2012 and last month.
Whitemarsh Township police arrested Edward W. Barnes Jr., 47, on June 28 as he allegedly tried to break into a home there, according to a report published by The Times Herald of Norristown. Barnes, of the 3400 block of Cottman Ave., targeted other homes in Whitemarsh, Whitpain and Plymouth townships as well as Conshohocken Borough and Northeast Philly during the 15-month crime spree, authorities claim. He stole jewelry, electronics and victims’ debit or credit cards, according to the charges.
Barnes was charged with 29 counts of burglary, along with numerous counts of theft, receiving stolen property, illegal possession of an access device, identity theft and related offenses. On July 12 in a Montgomery County district court in Blue Bell, Barnes waived his preliminary hearing. He is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 28 and remains in prison in lieu of $249,000 bail. ••
