Scarcely a morning went by in July that state police in Ephrata didn't take a report of a burglary at a Brecknock Township business.

But Trooper Chad S. Roberts' phone isn't ringing near as much these days, thanks in part to a clumsy suspect who police said left his cell phone at the scene of a break-in.

Police this month charged three males in connection with several break-ins: David Blaine Wanner, 22, 1485 Dry Tavern Road, Brecknock Township; Chad M. Martin, 18, 118 Spring Grove Road, Gordonville; and a 15-year-old from Brecknock Township.

Roberts on Wednesday filed 40 counts stemming from 15 break-ins against Wanner, who already was in Lancaster County Prison after being arrested Aug. 7 by East Cocalico police on unrelated burglary charges.

"I think they broke into every small business in Brecknock Township at least once," Roberts said.

According to the police affidavit, in an Aug. 12 interview at the prison, Wanner said Martin dropped his cell phone during a July 20 break-in at Martin Store, 1187 Dry Tavern Road.

Martin is charged with stealing cash, tools and other valuables during five Brecknock burglaries in July and faces 21 counts relating to late-night break-ins at Fox Notary, M&M General Repair, Joe's Garage, Bicycle Barn and Ranck's Family Restaurant.

Martin has been in prison since failing to post $75,000 bail set Aug. 15 by District Judge Rodney Hartman.

Two days after the break-in, Roberts found Martin in Terre Hill Park with about eight other males about 9:30 p.m. According to court documents, Martin said he refused to meet Roberts because "he hates police."

According to the affidavit, Martin said his phone might have been stolen during the Terre Hill Days festival three weeks earlier. But Wanner gave police a written statement claiming that Martin lost the phone while committing the burglary at Martin Store.

Wanner told police that Martin was worried "because he lost his cell phone during the burglary and the store owner was looking for him."

Wanner said the juvenile helped him during 15 break-ins in Brecknock. In addition to the burglaries in which Martin is charged, the 15-year-old was arrested for theft and/or break-ins at several Brecknock locations: Espenshade Greenhouse, Good's Glass Service, Renninger Golf Carts, Brecknock Orchards, Martin Produce Stand, Flooring Warehouse, R&T Auto, Laundry Mat and a residential garage on the 100 block of Church Street.

Roberts said Wanner also admitted he and the juvenile broke into Churchtown Auto Repair and Shirks Bike Shop in East Earl. The officer said he recovered several stolen items, including two BMX bikes taken from Shirks.

In an Aug. 8 interview at the juvenile's home, Roberts said the teen admitted to stealing cash from self-service produce stands in the area, but refused to provide further details.

Wanner already is facing five felony charges in the April 4 theft of a gas card from Sauder's Nursery, which he is accused of using to purchase about $2,300 worth of fuel. Wanner was arrested, then released on $15,000 unsecured bail after spending most of April in prison.

Wanner faces five more charges relating to the June 11 break-in at Terre Hill Farm Supply.

According to court documents, Wanner was arrested in June by East Earl police along with another accomplice, Christopher Kulp, and charged with taking a .22-caliber rifle, brass fittings and copper wire estimated to be worth $3,339 during the burglary at Terre Hill Farm Supply.

Kulp remains in prison on those charges, but Wanner was released June 26 on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Roberts said the ring had taken a sense of security away from the residents in eastern Lancaster County.

"These people did more than steal items and cause damage to the victims' property," Roberts said. "They took away people's safety zone, and that's not something that can be replaced."

E-mail: pburns@lnpnews.com