Supermarket burglar used rope ladder to break in, then fell asleep, say Pa. police

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. -- State police have arrested a man on charges he broke into a Pennsylvania supermarket using a rope ladder -- then claimed to merely be sleeping on the store's roof when he was caught.

Troopers say a security guard inside Pechin's Supermarket in Dunbar Township called police early Tuesday when he saw the suspect enter the store through an air-conditioning vent and lower himself with the ladder.

Troopers surrounded the building shortly after 3 a.m. and went onto the roof where they found 48-year-old Thomas Beal, who claimed to be sleeping.

Beal was awaiting arraignment on burglary, criminal trespass and other charges.