A Toms River homeowner captured and held a burglar who was stealing a bicycle out of his garage until police arrived Thursday morning.
Police spokesman Ralph Stocco said Officers Daniel Herr and Kyle Zangara were responding to the Golf View Boulevard burglary call when the dispatch center received further information that the homeowner had caught the suspect, Braulio Cruz, and was holding him down on the ground.
Upon the officers arrival, moments later, Cruz was taken into custody by the officers.
The 47-year-old homeowner, Stocco said, reported that he left his home for a short walk and had left his garage door open. Upon returning from his walk he saw a man, later identified as Cruz, walking out of his garage with his Mongoose bicycle.
"As he was approached, Mr. Cruz attempted to flee on the bike, at which point he was physically apprehended by the homeowner and held until the police officers arrived moments later," Stocco said.
Cruz, who told police he was homeless but his last address was in Long Branch, was charged with burglary and theft and was being held in the ocean county jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
