A Lansford man was given a Carbon County prison term on Monday to stealing from his neighbors.

Ryan Gorka, 27, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass for serve six to 23 months in prison on a single count of burglary, a felony one. Gorka admitted entering the home of Mark and Cindy Zimmerman, along W. Ridge St., and stealing from them. He previously entered a guilty plea to the charge.Borough police said Gorka entered the home several times and stole items. The police report indicated that the Zimmerman's noticed things missing from their home and set up a video surveillance which caught Gorka in the act.Yesterday Gorka apologized to the Zimmerman's for his actions. He said, "I hope that some day you will forgive me." He also said he was sorry for his family, adding, "I shamed their name."Defense Atty. Bruce Miller told Serfass that his client had a serious drug addiction-heroin. He said he tried to control it by entering rehabilitation programs but relapsed.He said Gorka has gotten a full-time job and returned to school, currently attending the Lehigh Carbon Community College campus in Nesquehoning. He is receiving counseling for his drug addiction and currently has it under control.Miller said, "He realizes he breached the trust of his neighbors."Miller said Gorka had written a letter of apology to the Zimmerman's shortly after being arrested, never denied his involvement in the thefts and took full respnsibility for his actions. He also said he gave the Zimmerman's a check in January for $4,080 to cover their losses.Mrs. Zimmerman told the court that Gorka was a trusted neighbor who was helping her husband renovate their property. She said the incident has affected she and her family and they don't feel safe. She said the incident especially affected their 10-year-old son, who had developed a friendship with Gorka.Mark Zimmerman said Gorka "betrayed us as a neighbor." He said Gorka entered their home about 10 times and stole items, some of which belonged to their son.Assistant District Attorney James Lavelle said the incident was a tragedy for both families. But he added, Gorka's drug addiction does not excuse what he did.Serfass agreed with Lavelle and called the case a tragedy. He said he believes that Gorka is remorseful for what he did and that the drug addiction made him do things out of character.But Serfass added, "That does not excuse your activities." The judge said it will take the victims a long time to recover from what happened.In addition to the jail term Serfass said Gorka would serve 18 months probation consecutive, must supply a DNA sample, have no contact with the victims, continue drug and alcohol counseling, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, pay court costs, pay a $50 per month supervison fee while on parole, and was made eligible for the re-entry program.Serfass denied Miller's request to give Gorka immediate work release privileges.Gorka began the jail term at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26.