Phoenixville man charged in day-long crime spree

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

PHOENXIVILLE — Police arrested one man connected to various crimes in the borough, three of which happened in one day.
Ryan Francis McCaul, 35, of Phoenixville faces 13 felony counts of burglary, criminal trespassing, receiving stolen property and other related offenses, according to court documents.
On Feb. 14, McCaul allegedly broke into Penn Psychiatric, Valor Men’s Grooming, and another unnamed business before noon, police said.
McCaul is also charged for the January burglary of The Wooden Spoon, police said.
According to police, McCaul gained access to the businesses different ways for each alleged crime.
Then burglary of The Wooden Spoon, which occurred in the overnight hours between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, McCaul allegedly used a key to gain access to the restaurant and take approximately $300 from the cash register as well as a lock box.
Owners of the restaurant called police around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 26 when they noticed the back door was unlocked.
Police said nothing was taken from Penn Psychiatric around 8:41 a.m. on Feb. 14, but McCaul allegedly vandalized the reception area by climbing through the glass partition.
Around 9:54 a.m. that day, the owner of Valor Men’s Grooming noticed the glass on the front door was broken. According to police, the business was closed on Feb. 13. Police said a small safe with $125 in it was stolen from the store.
Less than an hour later, the owner of a business called police to say the glass front door of her business was smashed but nothing appeared missing.
On Feb. 15 around 1:45 p.m. East Pikeland police executed an arrest warrant for McCaul’s apartment. McCaul was taken into custody where he allegedly waived his rights and consented to an interview, police said.
During the interview, McCaul told police he took the keys from the mailbox outside The Wooden Spoon and used them to enter the restaurant.
He also allegedly admitted to breaking into Penn Psychiatric and Valor Men’s Grooming, police said. McCaul told police he used a hammer to break the glass for the Feb. 14 break-ins.
On March 4, McCaul was arraigned by District Judge Theodore P. Michaels. His bail was set at $15,000, according to court documents. In lieu of his bail, McCaul is confined to the Chester County Prison.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12 at 10 a.m.