Phone Call Leads to Burglary Arrest

Because of an attentive neighbor, police say a burglary in progress was thwarted on Wetmore Avenue on Wednesday.

Police arrested and charged Eugene Hayes Jr., 39, of Morristown, with burglary, and are exploring whether Hayes is connected

On Wednesday, at 12:18 p.m., patrol officers responded to a residence on Wetmore Avenue on report of a burglary in progress, according to a release issued Thursday by Morristown Police Capt. Steven Sarinelli. Officer Richard Rispoli spoke with a witness who said he noticed a man at the front door to his neighbor’s house that he did not recognize from the area, Sarinelli said.

When the unfamiliar person walked around to the rear of the house, the witness became suspicious and watched from his own yard, Sarinelli said in the release. After the person began climbing through a window in the back of the house, the neighbor used his cell phone to call 911, Sarinelli said.

At that point, the suspect–later identified as Hayes–noted the witness and fled the scene, according to the release. Officer Jared Sylvin caught Hayes less than one block from the scene. Nothing was reported missing from the residence, according to the release.

"The apprehension of the suspect would not have been possible without the assistance of the civic-minded resident, who called to report the crime in progress," Sarinelli said in the release. "This underscores the necessity and value residents can play in assisting us [in solving] crimes within their neighborhood."

Eugene Hayes was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in default of $100,000 bail.

This is not the first time Hayes has been in trouble with the law. A NJ.com article from April 2009–for an arrest at the time in connection to an attempted break-in at a Morris Street hair salon–cites a variety of burglary, theft and drug offenses throughout Morris County.

Anyone with specific information regarding any crimes within Morristown is encouraged to contact Morris County Crimes Stoppers at 973-COP-CALL or the Morristown Police Investigative Unit at 973-292-6737.

For more information on this post, contact John Dunphy at john.dunphy@patch.com.