A man who police said was seen frequently and questioned in the City-County Building, Downtown, usually explained that he was there in search of a job.

In reality, a police affidavit maintains, Antonuan Thomas is suspected in dozens of thefts from the government building, usually after hours.

Mr. Thomas, 38, of the Hill District, was arraigned yesterday on three counts of burglary. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail on $10,000 bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing Oct. 9 in Municipal Court.

He also has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by the county's Behavior Clinic.

A police investigation was launched last month after Mary Lou Tenembaum, the city's real estate manager, reported thefts from her offices over the weekend of Sept. 27-29. That same weekend, county Controller Michael Lamb reported that his office, too, had been burglarized.

Police learned that employees in the city Personnel Department reported having seen a suspicious, toothless man who walks with a limp, on the fourth floor of city hall during working hours on several occasions.

The employees were shown a photo array that included Mr. Thomas' picture.

Police said the suspect had been arrested a number of times for illegal entry at several Downtown office buildings.

His fingerprints were lifted from several surfaces throughout the City-County Building, and a warrant was issued Oct. 1 for his arrest Thursday.

Mr. Thomas admitted to police that he had entered the City-County Building about 30 times. He said he easily entered through unlocked side doors.

In addition to smaller items such as coffee mugs and loose change, also reported missing were a laptop computer, two digital cameras, and a briefcase that had been taken from Mr. Lamb's offices.

The affidavit said Allegheny County police also are to question Mr. Thomas in connection with thefts from other county property.