BERNE — A Berne man was arrested on July 16, following a three-month investigation, for breaking into houses and stealing.

Clifford H. Swart Jr., of 749 Sickle Hill Road, was charged with two counts of felony burglary; one count of felony grand larceny; and one count of petit larceny, a misdemeanor, according from a release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Craig Apple told The Enterprise this week that he could not comment on how “we developed Mr. Swart as a suspect,” because the investigation is ongoing.

The release said Swart allegedly “broke into several residences” in Berne and stole “jewelry, firearms, and cash.”

His arrest led investigators to issue a search warrant for a house in Schoharie County where two stolen handguns, a shotgun, and a sawed-off shotgun were discovered.

Apple said Swart did not live in the Schoharie County home.

“It was a second-hand dealer and scrapyard operation,” said Apple. “There was no affiliation except they accepted stolen property.”

The location is still part of the investigation, he said.

Swart was arraigned in Berne Town Court by Judge Albert E. Raymond III and sent to Albany County’s jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.