NASHUA – Karim Bin Rashid Ahmad had no weapons on him when he allegedly burglarized a Crown Hill area apartment and stole more than $3,000 worth of belongings, nor did he become aggressive toward the occupant when he happened to arrive home and allegedly catch Ahmad in the act.

Further, he cooperated with police, and “almost immediately” admitted to allegedly stealing the items, telling police he did it because, “I needed the money.”

However, attorney Amanda Armillay’s Thursday argument for releasing Ahmad from jail didn’t convince Superior Court Judge Charles Temple that releasing the 26-year-old man with no fixed address – and an admitted heroin habit – on personal recognizance bail was a good idea.

Temple, at Thursday’s evidentiary bail hearing, therefore affirmed Ahmad’s original status of preventive detention, but left the door open for the possibility the court would consider amending bail to personal recognizance if Ahmad is admitted to a residential substance use disorder program.

The roughly 30-minute hearing included testimony by Nashua police detective Adam Anderson, who traced the series of events that led to Ahmad’s arrest the morning of March 7.

Temple in his order cited Anderson’s “credible and truthful testimony” as the chief reason for his decision to deny Ahmad PR bail. “The court finds the defendant is a danger to himself and others,” Temple wrote, adding that the danger “is enhanced due to his admitted use of heroin.”

According to Anderson, the alleged victim of the burglary called police to report he came home to find a man he didn’t know in his apartment “going through cabinets.”

The suspect, later identified as Ahmad, told the resident he “was looking for Chris.” Told there was no Chris there, the resident asked Ahmad for his phone number, which he gave, then fled the apartment, Anderson said.

The alleged victim gave chase, but the suspect was riding a bicycle and eluded him. A description of the suspect was radioed to patrol officers. A short time later, an officer located a man matching the description in a parking lot off Canal Street.

Ahmad allegedly admitted to stealing the items, Anderson testified, and told police where they could find them. They included a laptop, a Playstation 4, four watches, a silver chain, “possibly” some jewelry, and a jar of money that contained $248, according to the testimony.

In recommending Ahmad continue to be held on preventive detention, Assistant County Attorney Lisa Drescher said Ahmad is currently on bail in a domestic violence case, and has active warrants for burglary, theft and failure to appear in court issued by authorities in North Carolina and Georgia.

Armillay, meanwhile, said treatment, not incarceration, is appropriate. In asking for PR bail, she suggested Ahmad be instructed to report to a safe station upon release.

“This (alleged) crime, in many ways, is linked to serious substance abuse,” Armillay said.

“Addressing the underlying issues is what’s important at this point.”