Man draws jail for stealing power tools

NORRISTOWN » A Norristown man is on his way to jail for burglarizing a borough residence and stealing power tools valued at more than $600.

Andrew Michael Callen, 29, of the 100 block of West Wood Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of burglary in connection with the May 2017 residential break-in.

Judge Gail A. Weilheimer, who accepted a plea agreement in the matter, also ordered Callen to complete one year of probation, following parole, meaning Callen will be under court supervision for about three years.

The judge also ordered Callen to pay $651 in restitution to the owner of the home that was burglarized in the 200 block of East Oak Street.

An investigation began on May 1 when Norristown police received a report of a burglary at the East Oak Street residence.

“(The victim) stated that he had several tools taken from inside the house and that it had occurred sometime overnight. (The victim) said that he was in the process of remodeling the house and had left his tools inside thinking they would be safe,” Norristown Detective David Crawford alleged in the arrest affidavit.

The investigation determined that numerous power tools, including circular saws, air compressors and grinders were stolen from the property during the burglary. Signs indicated the intruder may have entered the property through a window, court documents indicated.

During the investigation, detectives discovered evidence that indicated Callen sold some of the stolen tools at a local pawn shop, according to the criminal complaint. When detectives confronted Callen with the allegations, he confessed to committing the burglary and to selling the items at pawn shops, court papers indicated.