A Luzerne County man has been charged with burglary after he was caught in the act by an off-duty Pennsylvania state trooper.

Robert Stalter, 47, faces charges of burglary; criminal trespass; criminal mischief; and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by police Chief Kenneth Zipovsky and patrolman Darryl Hatter of the Rush Township Police Department:

At 9:07 a.m. April 11, the trooper called police when he saw a man forcing entry into a residence on Lynwood Street in Hometown.

When police arrived on scene, the trooper had Stalter in custody.

Police searched Stalter, who also had a metal pipe with suspected marijuana residue inside of it.

Though his addressis listed as Hazleton, Stalter said that he currently has no present address.

Police said Stalter has also been identified as the suspect in an attempted burglary at a different address in Hometown for which additional charges will be filed in the near future.

It appears as if he was walking the neighborhood looking for places to break into. Police asked township residents to review their surveillance systems, and if anyone suspicious is observed on them, they should contact the Rush Township Police Department at 570-668-4242.

He is currently out on bail for another offense, and was arraigned before District Judge Christina Hale of Frackville.

Stalter was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing April 21 before District Judge Stephen J. Bayer of Tamaqua.