Alleged Brick Robber Arrested

A man from the neighborhood is accused in a series of recent smash-and-grab burglaries at some of Center City’s most popular restaurants and convenience stores.

Philadelphia Police announced Monday that they had arrested Keith McClary, 56, and charged him in four burglaries dating back to October.

McClary who lives on the 700 block of S Martin Street is accused of using a brick to smash the window of a business before rooting through the cash register. Some of the spots he allegedly hit were the Palm Tree Gourmet on Pine Street, Gavin’s Café on Pine Street, Omega Pizza on South street and Honey’s Sit & Eat on South Street.

Police on patrol stopped McClary as he walked along S 19th Street near Rittenhouse Square on Saturday because he matched the description of the man seen on surveillance video released last week.

After the arrest, police say they found a black leather jacket similar to the one worn by the suspect during the thefts in McClary’s home.

The alleged spree may have started back in October but it intensified in recent weeks, according to reports.

At 4:10 a.m. on Dec. 9, McClary allegedly broke into Gavin's Cafe. In this case, police say he threw a brick through a side glass door and made off with $190 from a cash register.

That same morning, three other restaurants in a 5 block radius -- Resurrection Ale House, Honey's Sit & Eat and Dmitri's -- were burglarized by a man who threw either a brick or planter through glass front doors, police said. Only at one of the spots, Dmitri's, was he able to swipe cash. According to a police source, McClary admitted to burglarizing Honey's Sit & Eat. They did not say whether he was responsible for the Resurrection Ale House or Dmitri's burglaries however.

Finally, police say McClary robbed Omega Pizza,  located at 22nd and South Streets, back on Dec. 8. Investigators say he thew a brick through a window instead of the door during that incident.

Police also say McClary may be responsible for a robbery at the Pac-a-Deli convenience store at 12th and Walnut Streets around 4 a.m. on Oct. 2. This has not yet been confirmed however.