Lake Ariel man arrested on burglary charges

Apr. 21—A Lake Ariel man is in custody after state police at Honesdale said he stole about $1,000 from a gas station safe in the township last year.

Brian A. Pongracz, 43, 102 Big Hills Road, is charged with burglary and related counts after state police identified him as the man who burglarized the Country Trails General Store, 2159 Easton Turnpike, at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 12, according to a criminal complaint.

Pongracz pried open the rear door of the building, stealing the money from a safe below the cash register, troopers said. The store manager told troopers he left the key in the safe.

State police at Dunmore informed the Honesdale barracks that a person matching Pongracz's description had broken into VFW Post 817, 846 Cortez Road, in Jefferson Twp. about four hours later. A person called the barracks identifying Pongracz as the burglar, according to the complaint. Pongracz was arraigned March 29 and remains in the Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Similar charges were pending Tuesday in Lackawanna County, according to court records.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY