Ringing cell phone leads patrolman to burglar at officer's own home

[jnelsoninjax]

DELAWARE TWP. ? A ringing cell phone led a township patrolman to a man who apparently tried to break into the officer's home while he was on duty. The man was under a covered table on the officer?s deck and plastic gift cards were found inside a back door.

Angel Garcia-Lopez, 33, of New Hope was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools ? plastic gift cards ? and possession of a fake Social Security card.

According to police, Garcia-Lopez was ?intoxicated and beaten up? and told police that he had been at a party the night of March 17-18. Police learned that the party was in Flemington and that Garcia-Lopez had been ?tossed out of a car? near Patrolman Jason Marrero?s home on Route 523 in the township.

Garcia-Lopez then allegedly tried to break in to the nearest house, Marrero?s, by jimmying a door lock with the hard plastic cards, one of which was still in the door. A deadbolt prevented entry, said police.

Marrero arrived home at 6 a.m. and called his own department to report the crime. While searching the area with Patrolman Elliot Gray, the cell phone rang under the table, which had a winter cover over it.

Garcia-Lopez was taken to the county jail, with bail set at $25,000.

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