Feb 18, 2016 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – A Cumberland Township man is charged with targeting an older couple and robbing them inside their township home last month.

Clarence Otis Lancaster III, 28, of 63 Route 21 Estates, was charged this week with burglary, trespassing, theft and receiving stolen property in connection with the Jan. 18 robbery near his residence.

Lancaster allegedly told investigators during an interview earlier this month he targeted the couple in their 80s living in the Route 21 Estate mobile home because the man “disrespected” him while the two were in a store together a couple days before.

“The two of them were in a store together and (the victim) told him to move out of his way,” police said in court documents.

Police said Lancaster went to the home and knocked, but the woman did not open the door because she was alone. Lancaster returned later in the day, and this time was let in by the woman because she thought he was a utility worker. He allegedly walked directly over to a television stand near where the husband was sitting and grabbed $60. The robber said something to the couple, but they could not understand him because he was wearing a handkerchief across his face.

Lancaster was also charged with robbing the Carmichaels Beer Distributor three days later. However, District Judge Lee Watson dismissed all charges against Lancaster in that case during a preliminary hearing Wednesday. The reason for that dismissal was not immediately known.

Police also charged Lancaster with burglarizing the Shop ‘n Save at the Brodak’s shopping center along Route 88 as staff opened the store Jan. 11. Police did not say what was stolen in that incident.

Lancaster turned himself in to authorities Jan. 30 and is being held in Greene County jail.

District Judge Lee Watson arraigned him Wednesday morning and set his bond at $50,000 cash for the home robbery. Lancaster’s preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for Feb. 25.