Man admits to burglaries in Worcester, L. Moreland

COURTHOUSE » A Philadelphia man is facing state prison time after he admitted to taking part in two burglaries in Worcester and Lower Moreland townships.

Dumar Combs, 26, of the 5600 block of Belmar Terrace, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to two felony charges of burglary in connection with incidents that occurred between April 2014 and February 2015. Judge Todd D. Eisenberg deferred sentencing so that court officials can determine the amount of restitution that is owed in connection with the burglaries.

However, Combs, who was represented by defense lawyer Megan Schanbacher, faces a sentence of 2½ to five years in state prison on the charges. Combs showed no emotion as he admitted to the charges during a brief hearing in court.

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin McKenna said prison time is warranted against Combs because the break-ins resulted in “tens of thousands of dollars” in cash and goods being stolen.

“You can’t go into people’s homes and take whatever you want. This man committed two different burglaries and took tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of people’s possessions, their personal things,” McKenna alleged.

With the charges, prosecutors alleged Combs and two other men took part in a break-in at a residence in the 200 block of Carson Terrace in the Huntingdon Valley section of Lower Moreland on April 17, 2014. The homeowner reported to police that he returned home during the early morning hours of April 18 and discovered his apartment had been ransacked.

The victim reported that thieves stole electronics equipment and cash and jewelry.

“All the rooms in the apartment were ransacked and a large number of clothing items were missing as well,” detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Police used surveillance camera footage to assist in identifying three suspects in the break-in as well as the vehicle they used, according to the criminal complaint. Police also sought assistance from the media that broadcast surveillance photos of the suspects. Police subsequently received tips that helped them identify the suspects, including Combs.

Detectives said cellphone tower analysis also linked Combs’ cellphone to being in the area of the break-in when it occurred, according to court documents.

Two other men also were charged in connection with the burglary. Rauf J. Simmons, 39, and Carey C. Richards, 27, each of Philadelphia, are still awaiting trial on burglary-related charges, according to testimony.

Authorities alleged Combs was alone when he committed a second burglary on Feb. 27, 2015, at a residence in the 1500 block of Broadview Lane in Worcester Township.

The homeowners called state police at Skippack after arriving home to find lights on inside the home and an open garage door. State police found that the interior of the residence had been ransacked. The victims reported that jewelry, cash, a computer and liquor were stolen during the break-in, according to the criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper Richard W. Sanzick Jr.

Investigators linked Combs to the burglary through fingerprint analysis and determined his cellphone was in the vicinity of the victim’s residence at the time the break-in occurred, according to the criminal complaint.