A 19-year-old pleaded not guilty to breaking into a Racine home and stealing checks in late July and early August.

Bradley Allen Lound, of Racine, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Mower County Court for two charges of second-degree burglary.

According to the court complaint, the homeowner noticed a metal striker plate from his door lying on the floor on two separate occasions — July 23 and Aug. 13 — when he returned home. However, both times the homeowner didn’t find any missing items. The victim later looked at his bank statement and discovered three checks were forged in the amounts of $147, $65 and $135, according to the complaint.

An officer obtained video surveillance of the suspect at a Stewartville bank, which allegedly shows Lound cashing a fourth check worth $142.

The officer went to the defendant’s home and arrested him. According to the complaint, Lound admitted to entering the home, taking the checks and writing them to himself. Lound also consented to a search of his room, and the officer found four more checks belonging to the victim, the complaint adds.

Lound’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 6.