Police: Tracks in snow led to suspect

ALTOONA, Pa., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Police in Pennsylvania said they followed a trail of footprints in the snow from the scene of a burglary to a suspect.

Altoona police said the front window of Vic's Mini Store was smashed with a brick at about 1 a.m. Wednesday and police followed tracks in snow from the crime scene to the open back door of a home about a block from the shop, the Altoona Mirror reported Thursday.

Joshua Charles Phillips, 28, of Tennessee, was found in the attic of the home, where he had been staying with a disabled relative. Phillips, who was wearing wet shoes and wet pants, initially told officers he had been asleep all night, but his cousin told police he had gone along with Phillips to act as a lookout during the break-in, investigators said.

Officers said Phillips later amended his story, saying he was walking down the street tossing the brick in the air and accidentally broke the window when he missed a catch.

Phillips was charged with attempted burglary and criminal mischief. He was being held in lieu of $30,000 cash bail.