Man charged in dozens of Pasco burglaries

ZEPHYRHILLS Pasco deputies recently picked up a 22-year-old man on charges, including dealing in stolen property, and then the pieces to a puzzle started coming together.

Deputies noticed he had a history of burglaries and lived in the Zephyrhills area, said sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll, and then came a tip that Arnie Adam Bauer was responsible for a rash of burglaries since the summer.

When deputies questioned Bauer on the other charges he faced and mentioned the recent burglaries, Doll said, he admitted breaking into several homes. He has so far been charged with 38 burglaries, including one in the Zephyrhills police's jurisdiction, but he reportedly has admitted to breaking into 67 homes in all.

Bauer chose homes that were unoccupied, mostly by seasonal residents, Doll said, and used a tool to pry open doors and enter the homes. Then he would look for flat-screen televisions, and then perhaps take jewelry, guns and coins, police said.

"He claimed to have stolen more than 100 televisions, which he would sell or trade on the streets to support his drug habit," Doll said.

Homes were hit in Valley Dale, Zephyr Ridge, Southern Charm, Florida Estates, Green Hill Estates, Spanish Trails and Betmar. The burglaries occurred between the summer months and November.

Bauer has told detectives that he worked alone. The case is still under investigation.

Most of the property has not been recovered. A few rings and a handgun that were stolen, however, were found and returned to their owners, Doll said.

In the stolen property case Bauer was initially arrested on, he is accused of stealing rings from a woman he was driving with on Oct. 21. When the woman's boyfriend confronted him, a report states, Bauer said he pawned them but would get them back. When he didn't return the items, according to the report, the victim and her boyfriend learned they had indeed been pawned at Mid-Florida Gold & Gun in Zephyrhills.

Deputies also discovered Bauer had pawned a revolver at the same shop, violating the conditions of the domestic violence injunction that states he cannot possess a firearm. He also violated his misdemeanor probation for dealing in stolen goods, reports state.

Bauer told detectives he pawned the gun for a friend.

Bauer, of 37430 Duke Lane, Zephyrhills, is being held without bail at the Land O' Lakes Jail.