Man cashes bad checks totaling $37,500: A New Jersey man was arraigned Wednesday before District Magistrate Clifford Yorks on a charge of theft by deception. The man allegedly cashed bad checks for large amounts of money at area banks.

According to a press release issued yesterday by the State College Bureau of Police Services, Scott R. Skolnick, 23, of Somerville, N.J., had written several bad checks since last Friday totaling about $37,500 at local branches of United Federal Savings Bank and Mellon Bank. He also allegedly wrote bad checks at Central Bank, 116 E. College Ave., Mid-State Bank on campus and Peoples National Bank in Port Matilda.

State College police arrested Skolnick Wednesday after he was picked up by Philipsburg State Police while attempting to cash a check at the Port Matilda bank. Police discovered a large amount of cash while searching Skolnick and his car. The money is being held for evidence.

More charges are expected against Skolnick as local agencies continue their investigations. Skolnick is also wanted by New Jersey police on similar charges.

Skolnick is being held at the Centre County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Centre County Courthouse.

Anonymous note left at bank: A holdup note was left anonymously at the Mid-State Bank, 234 E. College Ave., between 9 a.m. and noon Wednesday, State College police said.

The note, found by a bank employee on a countertop in the middle of the bank, said, "This is a stick up. Give me $10,000. No funny money," police said.

Bank officials told police that no suspicious people were seen that morning.

Burglary: Scott Smith, Dana Clark and Jeffrey Gerhart, all of 224 S. Burrowes St., reported that $1,150 worth of items was taken from their living room between 3:30 and 3:45 yesterday morning, State College police said.

A videocassette recorder, Nintendo system, Nintendo cartridges and 39 compact discs were taken from the unlocked apartment, police said.

Theft: Erik Class, 205 Mifflin, reported that his skis, bindings and poles were taken from a ski rack outside the Tussey Mountain Ski Lodge in Boalsburg late Monday night, State College police said.

The equipment, valued at $650, was not locked to the rack, police said.