Kresgeville Man charged in burglaries

By Andrew Scott Pocono Record Writer

BRODHEADSVILLE − A man allegedly burglarized the Dollar Tree on Route 209 eight times between the nights of Oct. 4 and July 12, stealing a total of $3,400 and causing damages totaling $4,080.

Walter Francis Trainor Jr., 53, of Kresgeville, was charged Monday with 40 counts including burglary, criminal trespassing, theft, receiving stolen property, possessing an instrument of crime with intent and criminal mischief. Trainor was placed in Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000 bail and is awaiting a district court hearing.

On July 21, Mahoning Township police contacted state police at Fern Ridge, requesting help to arrest Trainor at his home near Pleasant Valley Intermediate School in Polk Township.

Mahoning Township police at the time had a warrant for his arrest on charges of burglarizing the Lehighton Dollar Tree in neighboring Carbon County. The method used in the Lehighton burglary is similar to that in the Brodheadsville burglaries.

In Trainor’s driveway was a gray Ford Focus station wagon matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the Brodheadsville burglaries. Police obtained and executed a search warrant at Trainor’s home, taking him into custody.

Trainor told police there were pry bars and a grinding tool in the hutch drawer in the house. A grinder, steel wedge, dual-edge pry bar, steel chisel, single-edge pry bar, black beanie hat, brown shirt, ball pein hammer and vice grips were found in the house and car.

Trainor waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the Brodheadsville burglaries.

Trainor pried open the store’s rear door, entered, unplugged the audible door alarm, entered the office and used the grinder to cut the hinges on the safe, he told police. During some of the burglaries, he was unable to enter the safe to get money because it hadn’t yet been repaired from the damage in previous burglaries.

Each time he was able to enter the safe, he took at least $500, he told police.