Man charged with breaking into Shade Township cabins, police say

WINDBER, Pa. – A Somerset County man is in jail, charged with breaking into six cabins in Shade Township in 2023 and making off with tools and electrical wire, authorities said.

State police in Somerset charged Austin Michael Custer, 28, with six counts each of burglary, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief and criminal trespass stemming from the December 2023 break-ins.

Troopers also charged him with four counts of receiving stolen property and one count of trespass by motor vehicle.

According to a complaint affidavit, the property owner reported allegedly seeing a white male with a long beard, overalls and a winter cap drive off in a small truck.

Troopers discovered that six cabins were broken into, and that tools and electrical wire were stolen. Troopers found the six cabins with doors kicked and four windows broken.

Troopers followed tire tracks into the woods where they allegedly found a campground and campfire with burnt wire in the ashes. They also found a GMC truck and stolen tools and other items, the affidavit said.

Troopers arrested Custer on Sunshine Avenue in Central City Borough.

He was arraigned Oct. 24 by District Judge Scott Walker, of Somerset, and sent to Somerset County Jail without bond.

Custer will answer the charges before District Judge William Seger, of Windber.

These police officers knew something was wrong before the 911 call came through. Officers from the London Ohio Police Division spotted a child walking alone. As they turned around to follow him, an emergency call came over the radio saying a 5-year-old boy with autism had gone missing. He was floating on his back in creek waters that were 3-feet deep when the officers found him. According to authorities, the boy was taken to a hospital for observation and released.