A Morristown resident helped authorities track down an alleged burglar after he stole a laptop from a parked car, according to a report by the Morristown Police Department.

Police charged Michael J. Bednarz, 35, of Whippany, with burglary, possession of a weapon, and possession of burglary tools after the alleged incident occurred during the early morning hours of Oct. 20.

According to the report, a woman called police to Flagler Street after she witnessed a suspicious man in her neighbor's Nissan Murano searching for items inside the front and rear passenger side of the vehicle. 

After reporting the incident, the woman said she shouted to Bednarz "I called the police," according to the report. 

At that point, the woman saw Bednarz flee the scene on foot toward Martin Luther King Avenue with a black duffel bag and a yellow bag, the report said.

The woman told police Bednarz attempted to hide behind a building on Spring Street and that when he later emerged he was not carrying the bags, the report said. Once police arrived, the woman pointed them to Bednarz, according to the report.

The report said police could not find the bags Bednarz was allegedly carrying and was placed under arrest and taken to headquarters based on the woman's statement.

Police found a butterfly knife as well as screwdriver and pliers when they searched Bednarz, the report said.

The owner of the Murano told police that she left the vehicle unlocked and that the only thing taken was a Compaq laptop in a black bag that was located in the back seat.  

Police said there were surveillance cameras at the Spring Street building where Bednarz was seen, but they are not certain if the cameras are operable.

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