Police arrested a man Thursday on a slew of charges after he allegedly committed a string of break-ins at the Varsity Villas last month.
Thomas Hursey, 20, is charged with three counts of felony burglary, one count of felony robbery, and misdemeanors for theft and possession of marijuana.
Hursey is connected to several incidents in which video game systems, televisions and other electronics were stolen from apartments in the campus-adjacent complex, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Dana Cole said. He was arrested after a stolen Xbox was traced to his apartment's IP address and a search warrant was served.
Hursey, who is not a student, lives with several other people but was the only person home when the warrant was served, Cole said. In his room, they found potentially stolen items, including televisions and a PlayStation.
Police also found a camouflage ski-mask that fit the description of one worn by a burglar who came face-to-face with a resident in late February. That break-in occurred at an apartment across the street from Hursey's.
Hursey was taken to police headquarters, where he told police he had bought the items from an unknown man. He could not give a name or description of the man.
His roommates later also spoke to police. The one with whom Hursey shares a room admitted to being involved in the first two break-ins, including one incident in which he stole a pizza delivery car, which was later recovered. Cole said he will face charges, but because he is cooperating with police, he has not yet been arrested.
He told police he and Hursey broke into houses in the early morning hours. They used exclusively unlocked doors.
Other roommates told police they were suspicious of how Hursey, who worked a part-time job, afforded all the electronics but didn't want to ask where he was getting them.
Hursey is from South Bend, Indiana, and moved to Bloomington about a month ago, around the time the break-ins started, Cole said.
Police are in the process of returning stolen belongings to owners.
