A Johnson City resident was arrested after police spotted a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt attempting to break into several Seminary Plaza business Wednesday morning, the Auburn Police Department said.

John D. Drooney, 43, is accused of attempting to break into the China Wok Chinese Restaurant, Donovan-Luksa Paper Products and Auburn Discount Liquor by prying open the businesses' doors shortly before 5 a.m., police said.

Drooney allegedly ran from the scene after he spotted the officers, police said. The APD set up a perimeter and said that Drooney was found a short time later hiding in some weeds.

When officers took him into custody, Drooney allegedly possessed tools that could be used to pry open doors, police said.

No items were reported stolen during the attempted burglaries, police said.

Patrols near the plaza have recently been beefed up due to an increase of burglaries in the area, police said.

Officers do not know why Drooney, who has no ties to the area, came to Auburn, or if he is connected to a rash of burglaries that targeted other local businesses, mainly restaurants, last month, police said.

Drooney is currently the target of an investigation by law enforcement agencies in Johnson City and Broome County, police said. Details of those investigations were not immediately available.

Drooney was charged with three counts of third-degree felony attempted burglary and one count of misdemeanor possession of burglar's tools.

He was arraigned in Auburn City Court and remanded to the Cayuga County Jail in lieu of bail, which was set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.