LOCK HAVEN - A Mill Hall man was jailed Wednesday in connection with an alleged burglary spree in the city.

Christopher Allen Barner, 20, of Mill Hall has been charged with 19 felonies, including multiple counts of criminal conspiracy, burglary, receiving stolen property, theft and criminal trespass.

The charges were filed in connection with five burglaries that occurred in Lock Haven between Feb. 20 to March 9, city police said. The arrest was made after a lengthy investigation into the break-ins.

Barner was arraigned before Mill Hall area District Judge John Maggs and committed to the Clinton County Correctional Facility in default of $75,000 bail.

Police say the case broke when officers spoke to Daniel Helgran, who operates Helgran's Jewelry Imports, 215 N. Grove St., and learned that several items of jewelry and DVDs reported as stolen items were sold to that store by Barner. Police retrieved some of the items and showed them to victims, who identified them as the stolen property.

Armed with that information and the knowledge that Barner had been staying at 211 W. Bald Eagle St., officers entered the home and spoke to a resident, Anna Young, who told police Barner had been staying in the house for about four days.

Police said they went upstairs to look for Barner, and saw several items that matched the description of items stolen in the break-ins.

While the officer was inside talking with Young, Detective Sgt. Charles Shoemaker, who was standing outside, saw Barner approaching and took him into custody without further incident.

Barner was interviewed by law enforcement officials Wednesday, and after being read his Miranda rights, admitted he committed the burglaries, police said.

Police said Barner stated he "scoped out" 228 W. Clinton St. for two other people so they could burglarize the house but couldn't identify the other suspects.

Barner also told police he entered all the homes through unlocked windows, with the exception of 240 W. Clinton St., where he found a spare key outside, officers said.

Barner said he committed the burglaries "because he needed the money to pay a fine and because it gave him an adrenaline rush," police said.

The burglaries:

n On Feb. 20, Vickie Hibbler, 240 W. Clinton St., told police somebody entered her home between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and stole jewelry and Mason jars of candy, all valued at $3,000 to $4,000.

n On Feb. 20, Adam and Shannon Frear , 228 W. Clinton St,, told police somebody entered their home between 6:10 a.m. and 1:36 p.m. and stole $130 in cash, a digital camera, a Playstation II, a 35mm camera, a pair of Bushnell binoculars, compact discs, prescription medications, a GPS unit and many items of jewelry. The value of the stolen items was set at over $2,000.

n On March 5, Amanda Long, 413 S. Highland St.,, told police a break-in occurred between March 4 and 5. This time the suspect stole multiple items of jewelry, a Gameboy, two games and an MP3 players, all valued at over $200 but less than $2,000.

n On March 5, Wendi Spicher, 335 W. Clinton St., said her home was entered between 9:10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and a gold pocket watch, a Swiss Army watch, $90 in change, an HP notebook computer, jewelry, a Wii video console and a Samsung digital camera were stolen. The items were valued in excess of $7,000 police said.

n On March 9, Mark Stevenson, 229 Rose St., told police his home was entered between 8:15 a.m. and 12:24 p.m. This time, the suspect stole a Sony Cybershot digital camera, several Blueray DVDs and many pieces of jewelry. The stolen property was valued in excess of $6,000 and the suspect left behind a pair of sunglasses, police said.