A teenager has been charged with nearly a dozen burglaries in upscale neighborhoods in Lower Merion and police say he made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry.

 

Police say the break-ins started in mid-June -- at least 18 in Wynnewood, Penn Valley and Gladwyne. Police got a break this weekend when they saw 19-year-old Brett Bankoff loitering around some properties on Fairview Road. District Attorney Risa Ferman says the Penn Valley man was arrested and charged with 10 of the burglaries:

  

"The would break in quickly, steal jewelry and escape. He was able to make off with a significant amount of jewelry. Estimates are well over $200,000 in terms of all of the jewelry stolen.”

 

Police believe he was pawning the jewelry at Golden Jewelers in the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia. The investigation is continuing and more charges could be leveled against Bankoff, who is free after posting $50,000 bail.