A commercial burglary spree that impacted businesses in six towns was carried out by two men fueled by a nasty heroin addiction.
According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the men behind the burglaries – Robert Runner, 32, of Croydon, and John Bruno III, 33, of Philadelphia – admitted to Judge Wallace H. Bateman that their heroin addiction caused them to commit the burglaries.
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Bateman sentenced Runner to five to 12 years in state prison and eight years of post-incarceration probation for involvement in 27 burglaries or attempted burglaries.
Bruno was sent to state prison for two and a half to six years with 14 years of probation to follow in connection with 22 burglaries or attempted burglaries.
The judge said he will consider placing the men in special prison units where they could receive drug treatment, according to a press release.
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Between April 15 and July 3 of last year, the men were said to have been involved in burglaries. They usually struck and night and cut communication lines to the buildings.
The crimes happened in Bensalem, Bristol Township, Falls Township, Lower Southampton, Northampton and Upper Southampton. The men reportedly burglarized salons, pizza shops, convenience stores, a bowling alley, a guitar repair shop and other businesses.
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“[Detectives] tireless efforts were directly responsible for bringing the defendants to justice. The sentences imposed today ensure that the defendants will spend years of their life behind bars in state prison,” Deputy District Attorney Marc Furber.
The robbery spree came to an end after two Northampton detectives identified Runner in surveillance video obtained when he redeemed a $30 winning lottery ticket stolen in one of the burglaries. Bruno was identified after detectives searched through Runner’s cell phone, the district attorney’s office said.
Runner thanked police in court Tuesday and said his arrest likely saved his drug-filled life.
