Police: Man Illegally in US Burglarizes 'Sips'

A 27-year-old Phoenixville man who police later discovered was in the United States illegally was arrested last weekend for attempted burglary of .

Police found Jose Perez, a resident of the 300 block of Bridge Street, on the restaurant’s property after business hours on Saturday and allege that he made forced entry into the building.

According to court documents, an officer was patrolling in the area of the 400 Bridge Street restaurant on August 11 at 2:48 a.m. when he heard the businesses’ security alarm sound.

The officer heard a noise coming from the rear of the property, peered into the building’s back patio (which is enclosed by a six-foot high wooden fence), and saw Perez. The officer says Perez then jumped back over the fence and into the parking lot, at which point he was apprehended. Once at the station, officers noted Perez was intoxicated.

Police contacted Sips owner Fabien Chaigneau, who let officers in the building, where they discovered a window on its south side pushed in and mulch was on the floor. According to police, nothing in the business was disturbed.

Perez was charged with burglary and several less offenses, though police contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they discovered he was in the country illegally. He is being held in Chester County Prison.