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The resident called just before noon Tuesday after spotting Daniel M. Strug "ringing doorbells and attempting to gain entry through front doors of homes in the Grove Street area," Deputy Police Chief Donald Scorzetti said.
Responding officers found the front window of a Grove Street residence open, the screen removed and smudges on the sill, Scorzetti said Wednesday.
A bicycle was stashed in the shrubs out front, he added.
Police contacted the homeowner's son, who provided the garage access code.
Sgt. Frank Debartola and Officers Ana Martinez, Andelson Mindest, Ahmet Kulaksiz, Richard Cordero and Derek Morrison then went in and began a search, Scorzetti said.
K9 Officer Anthony Gagliostro of the Bergen County Bureau of Police Services remained out front with his K9 partner and Lt. Joseph Pless, he said.
Soon after, they found Strug in the closet, the deputy chief said.
Although he gave police bogus information, they quickly identified Strug and charged him with various offenses -- among them, burglary and hindering, Scorzetti said.
A judge ordered him held on $25,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.
Scorzetti praised the caller, nothing that the result was a perfect example of “if you see something, say something” in action.
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