Dresher Man Burglarizes Woman's Home, Steals Underwear, DA Says

A Dresher man is in police custody after he was arrested Thursday on suspicion of burglarizing a Springfield woman's home and stealing her underwear. Kornwell Chan, 37, of Audubon Drive, has been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, stalking and related offenses, following an investigation by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and Upper Dublin and Springfield Police Departments.

A press release from the District Attorney's office says that authorities suspect Chan burglarized the woman's home while the family was away for the winter holidays, stealing only the victim's bra and panties. In addition, the release says that framed family photographs in the home were all turned face-down, with the exception of a photograph of the victim, which was left upright and moved to the dining room table.

According to the release, Chan met the woman at the Oreland train station in October 2011 and they began to exchange conversation before their morning commutes. However, Chan quickly began to display worrisome behavior, according to the release.

"They would exchange greetings in the mornings prior to boarding the train to Philadelphia," the release says. "Throughout the following weeks, Chan began treating the victim with more and more familiarity, to such an extent that it began to make the victim uncomfortable and she actively sought ways to avoid running into him during her morning commute."

After the burglary, police surveillance of Chan revealed multiple attempts to locate the victim or her car at the train station, the release states. Records show Chan also called the family home nine times between Christmas and New Years.

Police searched Chan's residence on January 19, and recovered the woman's undergarments, which were identified by the victim.

Chan was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Katherine McGill on January 19. Bail was set at $100,000 cash, and Chan was scheduled to appear at Judge McGill's court, at 1316 Bruce Road in Oreland, at 1:00 p.m. on January 27.