Suspect in two through-the-wall Germantown burglaries arrested

Germantown’s hole-in-the-wall bandit is now in a hole of a different sort.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia Police announced the arrest of Troy Allen, who was identified as the suspect in two burglaries in southwest Germantown last year.

On two separate occasions, in October and November 2012, a man allegedly entered the Progressive Food Market, Germantown Avenue near Collom St., by breaking a hole in a side wall.

Once inside, the offender took an undetermined amount of cash and numerous cartons of cigarettes, placed them into a backpack style bag and fled in an unknown direction.

On Jan. 25, 25th District officers observed a male behaving suspiciously, identified him as Troy Allen, the 45-year-old suspect wanted in connection with the burglaries, and made the arrest, police said.

At his Feb. 11 preliminary hearing, Allen, of the 3100 block of N. 29th St., was held for trial on charges including burglary, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and theft.

According to court records dating back to 1985, Allen has served time for trespassing, theft, criminal conspiracy, burglary, fleeing police and contempt of court.

He remains in custody and is scheduled for a formal arraignment on March 4.