Man charged with break-ins during funerals held on $25K bail

BARNSTABLE, Mass. – A Massachusetts man authorities say broke into homes while the residents attended wakes or funerals has been held on $25,000 bail.

The Cape Cod Times reports that 35-year-old Randy Brunelle was held after pleading not guilty at his arraignment Monday to charges including breaking and entering and larceny.

Police, who called him the “obit bandit,” think he is responsible for at least three break-ins on Cape Cod, while Plymouth police say he’s a suspect in five similar break-ins in their town.

Brunelle was arrested Friday after allegedly breaking into a Barnstable home while the resident was at her mother’s wake.

His lawyer says Brunelle developed an addiction to heroin after being prescribed painkillers for a back injury, and thought bail was too high because he stays home with his four children.

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Information from: Cape Cod (Mass.) Times, http://www.capecodtimes.com