BEDFORD – A Bedford man is facing burglary charges after Bedford Police Department officers arrested him on Sunday, July 23.
Police arrested 23-year-old Austin Robertson on charges of burglary, residential entry, theft, and public intoxication.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on Sunday Bedford Police Dispatch received information of a suspicious man carrying a duffel bag walking around a residence in the 20 block of Lincoln Avenue. The caller reported the homeowner was deceased and no one should be at the home. When police arrived they found the back door open.
The caller told officers she had confronted the man. She told him he was trespassing on private property and to leave. The male said he was looking for a ride to Bloomington. The woman told him to go to the gas station and wait there for his ride. The caller took a photo of the male.
Officers then went to the local gas station and located Robertson inside. He told police he had just left a friend’s house in Oolitic. He told police he was just sitting in the shade at the home while he called for a ride. Police then asked where his duffle bag was. Police found it on the north side of the gas station. He told police his friend had given him the bag.
In the bag, police found jewelry and mail from the Lincoln Avenue address. They also recovered a stolen laptop, tablet, debit and credit cards, a candle holder, a watch, and other items.
Robertson said he did not know it was illegal to enter a vacant home and then admitted to taking the bag from the home. He then told police he was either high or coming down from smoking meth and didn’t know why he had taken the items.
After being detained, Robertson complained of health issues and was transported to IU Health Hospital for a medical evaluation. Once medically cleared he was transported to jail.
