BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) _ A Massachusetts man authorities say broke into homes while the residents attended wakes or funerals has been held on $25,000 bail.

The Cape Cod Times reports that 35-year-old Randy Brunelle was held after pleading not guilty at his arraignment Monday to charges including breaking and entering and larceny.

Police, who called him the ``obit bandit,'' think he is responsible for at least three break-ins on Cape Cod, while Plymouth police say he's a suspect in five similar break-ins in their town.

Brunelle was arrested Friday after allegedly breaking into a Barnstable home while the resident was at her mother's wake.

His lawyer says Brunelle developed an addiction to heroin after being prescribed painkillers for a back injury and thought bail was too high because he stays home with his four children.

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