CLEARFIELD – A Houtzdale man has been accused of breaking into three local establishments and stealing over $14,800 from Pennsylvania Skills gaming machines.
Brice W. Love, 24, has been charged in connection with break-ins and thefts at the Fuel-On gas station and The Remedy Bar, both in Houtzdale, and The Scotchmen Bar in Osceola Mills.
In the first case, Love has been charged by state police with felony burglary and theft by unlawful taking, plus two summary counts of criminal mischief.
According to the affidavit, Love forcibly entered a window of Fuel-On in Houtzdale back on June 23. Once inside, he allegedly broke into two skills gaming machines and removed $7,963.
In the second case, Love has been charged by state police with felony burglary and misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking, plus two summary counts of criminal mischief.
According to the affidavit, Love forcibly entered The Remedy, also in Houtzdale, on Sept. 3. Once inside, he allegedly pried open two skills gaming machines and removed $425.
In the third case, Love has been charged with felony burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking, plus two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief.
According to the affidavit, The Scotchmen’s owner reported that overnight Sept. 3, someone pried open the bar door and broke into skills gaming machines. A total of $6,481 was allegedly stolen.
A witness said he heard someone in the area of the bar and also saw a silver Cadillac CTS passenger car with a Pennsylvania registration parked nearby.
As he approached the bar door, the witness said he encountered a male carrying tools, including a crowbar.
When the male spotted him, the witness said he threw his hood from his sweatshirt over his head. He then fled on foot towards the car, threw the tools in the backseat and fled at a high rate of speed.
During an interview Sept. 6, Love reportedly admitted that he used a pry bar to break into The Scotchmen and then into its skills machines. He said he took the cash and fled in his Cadillac.
Love waived his right to a preliminary hearing in all three cases Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. His bail is currently set at $5,000 unsecured in the first two cases and $50,000 unsecured in the third case.