Saying he “needed money to buy chips and snacks,” John Leslie Hamilton admitted he broke into Kathy’s Cafe at 21 S. Main St. late Wednesday night and stole about $20, state police said.

Troopers responded to the business about 11:20 p.m. after its owner, Tracy Clayton, saw Hamilton, whom she knew, allegedly enter the building through a back door, police said. The cafe was closed at the time.

The intruder had already fled the scene when police arrived, but he was nabbed near Main and Water streets within a matter of minutes, according to an affidavit.

Hamilton, 36, who lives next door to the cafe at 19 S. Main St., admitted he entered the business and removed money from the cash register, police said.

Following his arraignment before District Judge James G. Carn on charges of burglary, felony trespassing, theft and receiving stolen property, Hamilton was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000.