Burglar Jumps Into Lagoon, Flees; Police Searching For Suspect

A Tunes Brook Drive resident came home Wednesday afternoon to find a burglar in the rear of the house, police said.

The resident, who was not identified, came home at about 3 p.m., entered through the front door and heard someone run from the rear of the home, Brick Police Capt. John Rein said.

The homeowner then saw the suspect, a man, run out the back of the house onto the rear deck and jump into the lagoon behind the home. The man could be seen swimming across the lagoon and exiting the water onto Doe Court, which is where the homeowner lost sight of him, Rein said.

Police, including a K9 unit, conducted an extensive search of the area but were not able to locate the suspect.

An investigation determined the burglar entered the home by forcing open a window in the front of the house that was obscured by bushes, Rein said. Once in the home, the subject began piling up items he apparently planned to steal when the owner arrived home and disrupted the man's plans. In the end, no items were taken.

The man is described as a white male, about 5-feet 10-inches tall, approximately 20 to 25 years old, with brown hair, crew cut style, wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. The red sneakers the man was wearing were found in the water and along the shoreline where he exited the lagoon.

Two neighbors in the area reported to police a person matching the same description as the suspect knocked on their doors, reportedly looking for a lost pet, Rein said.  Police believe the suspect was canvassing the area to find a home that was unoccupied.