Thanksgiving break brings series of break ins, burglaries

Two Bloomington men were arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing nearly 100 items from a neighbor who was out of town.

A roommate told police he saw Aaron M. Szakaly, 38, and Justin D. Mercurio, 35, walking from a neighbor’s apartment carrying several items in their arms, Bloomington Police Lt. Faron Lake said.

When the men returned to their apartment in the 400 block of North Lincoln Street, the roommate confronted them about the burglary, Lake said. The confrontation turned physical, and the roommate called the police.

Officers responding to the call found several items gathered on the living room floor, according to the police report.

The items included 31 DVDs, 48 Xbox video games, two Xbox consoles, one 47 inch television set, two flat screen television sets, several containers of alcohol, checkbooks, subwoofers, cameras, remote controls and some DVDs checked out from the Monroe County Public Library.

Officers contacted the neighbor, who confirmed the property on the floor belonged to him, Lake said.

Both men were arrested.

Szakaly is facing preliminary charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and false reporting. Mercurio is facing preliminary charges of battery, burglary and possession of stolen property.

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As with every holiday break in Bloomington, several burglaries were reported last week and through the weekend.

3900 block of North Feerwood Court
Unknown entry point.
Tools left on staircase inside were stolen.

300 block of East Varsity Lane
Unknown entry point.
Various television sets, game systems and a laptop were stolen.
1100 block of North Jackson Street
Lock cut to gain entry.
A suspect cut through a storage unit’s lock and stole tools and copper wire.

1200 block of North Woodburn Avenue
Door kicked in to gain entry.
Several items were stolen, including shoes, alcohol, DVDs, an Xbox and a television set.

1400 block of North Woodburn Avenue
Door kicked in to gain entry.
Medication was stolen, as well as $200 in change.

300 block of East Brownstone Drive
Unknown entry point.
A Dell desktop computer and an Xbox 360, including its controllers and games, were stolen.


— Jake New