Bucks business burglar charged with 6 New Hope break-ins

A Philadelphia man has been charged with targeting six small businesses in New Hope last month, along with 15 other overnight burglaries across Bucks County.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday said David Anthony Andrauskas, 37, has been accused of breaking into or attempting to break into businesses in New Hope, Newtown Borough, Middletown Township, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township, Bensalem Township and Bristol Borough between Jan. 12 and Feb. 8, when he was arrested at his home.

As first reported in the Free Press, his arrest came several hours after he fled an early morning traffic stop, leading Bensalem Police on a brief pursuit during which Andrauskas’s vehicle accelerated to speeds well in excess of 100 mph, the criminal complaint says.

Officers during the stop had identified Andrauskas as matching the description of a man captured in still photographs committing a burglary at a business in the township three days prior. Andrauskas’s vehicle, a silver 2001 Honda Accord missing a front hubcap, was also a match with the vehicle believed to be associated with the break in. Andrauskas sped away from the stop as officers attempted to detain him.

The subsequent investigation implicated Andrauskas in a second burglary in Bensalem, as well as numerous-break ins and thefts from businesses around the county.

During the burglaries, Andrauskas broke open cash registers and left with the cash he found.  He typically entered businesses between 1:30 a.m. and 3: 30 a.m. through a window by first removing an air conditioning unit or by otherwise breaking the window. ,

He has been charged with burglary or attempted burglary of the following businesses:

New Hope: Last Temptation, Jan. 21; Phantasm Comics, Jan. 25; Lion’s Den, Jan. 31; Surrender, Jan. 31; Night Bird Vintage, Jan. 31; and Jaffron, Jan. 31

Bensalem: Belly Busters, Feb. 5; Brodie’s Ice Cream, Feb. 4

Bristol Borough: Annabella’s Restaurant, Feb. 6; Chuck’s BBQ, Feb. 6

Upper Makefield Township: Dominick’s Pizza, Feb. 4

Newtown Borough: Shoe Café: Jan. 12; Clark’s Florist, Jan. 18; Studio 35 Salon, Jan. 23

Middletown Township: CJ Nails: Feb. 8; Giovanni’s Pizza, Feb. 8; Maple Deli, Jan. 28

Newtown Township Green Straw: Feb. 1; Newtown Pizza, Feb. 1; Be Bronzed, Feb. 1; Bella Med Spa, Feb. 1

Though charged separately by police in each jurisdiction, the cases against Andrauskas have been consolidated for prosecution. He is set for a preliminary hearing March 23 before District Judge Michael W. Gallagher.

Andrauskas has been held in lieu of bail since his arrest Feb. 8.

These cases were investigated by the New Hope Borough Police Department, Bensalem Township Police Department, Bristol Borough Police Department, Upper Makefield Township Police Department, Newtown Borough Police Department, Middletown Township Police Department and Newtown Township Police Department.

First Assistant District Attorney Gregg D. Shore and Assistant District Attorney Brittney M. Kern are assigned to prosecution.

As reported in the Free Press, Andrauskas had previously been arrested in August 2019 for ripping a charity box off the wall at St. Dominic Catholic Church in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia.