AMHERST — An Amherst man was arrested last Thursday for his alleged role in three previously unsolved home break-ins that occurred more than a year ago, according to Amherst Police.
Bryan Dowland, 47, who provided an address as the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road, was arrested around 1 p.m. on University Drive on two warrants, Police Detective Marcus Humber said.
The first warrant charges Dowland with two counts of breaking and entering during the nighttime to commit a felony and two counts of larceny over $1,200 related to the December 2016 break-ins at two apartments on Hobart Lane.
Humber said Dowland allegedly took earrings, an X-box game system and controller, a guitar and a lacrosse bag from the homes.
The second warrant charges Dowland with breaking and entering during the nighttime, and vandalizing property and larceny over $1,200 after he allegedly smashed a window to gain entry to a Northampton Road home in January 2017.
A jacket, pants, ski mittens and large bottle of Belvedere vodka were stolen during that incident, Humber said.
In the Northampton Road home, a small nip bottle was located, which police believed at the time the intruder had brought. All three incidents occurred at rental properties where college students had been away for winter break.
In addition to the nip bottle, Humber said Howland touched or left behind items that were given to a laboratory. “Items found in the apartments were sent for testing that came back with his DNA on it,” Humber said.
