Burglar's penchant for Asian restaurants is his downfall, Kissimmee police say

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A 39-year-old man was arrested by police in Kissimmee after investigators set up a sting operation following a trend of break-ins at Asian restaurants in the area, officials said.

John Scalise was arrested Tuesday as he forced his way into New China Restaurant on West Vine Street, the Kissimmee Police Department said.

It was the third Asian restaurant broken into on West Vine Street in as many days, investigators said.

China Bell, in the 4300 block of West Vine Street, was broken into Sunday and Osaka’s, in the 3100 block of West Vine Street, was burglarized on Monday, officers said.

Based on the trend, the Kissimmee Police Department’s Special Operations and Investigations Division conducted an operation and staked out New China Restaurant.

Scalise was caught at the restaurant, in the 1300 block of West Vine Street, and charged with burglary to a business while wearing a mask, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief while wearing a mask.

Investigators were working to gather evidence connecting him to the other two Asian restaurant burglaries.

Cox Media Group