WEST CHESTER, PA — A 27-year-old Brookhaven man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of burglaries across the West Chester area, including the theft of a police officer’s body armor and badge, authorities announced.
Lawrence Dass faces five counts of burglary and related charges following his arrest on January 14. Magisterial District Judge Marian Vito set bail at $50,000, and Dass is currently being held at Chester County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 21.
The investigation, which began in August 2024, used video surveillance, fingerprint evidence, and DNA to identify Dass as the suspect in multiple burglaries in the area. Among the incidents linked to him was the theft of body armor and a badge from a West Chester Police patrol car.
West Chester Borough Police Chief Joshua Lee emphasized that detectives are still working to determine if Dass is connected to additional burglaries. The investigation involved cooperation from numerous law enforcement agencies, including Chester County Detectives and police departments from surrounding areas.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the West Chester Borough Police Department at (610) 696-2700.