He tried to deny it after his arrest, but police said a Middletown lawman watched 33-year-old James Houston attempt burglarize a home on Forsythia Drive in Levittown.
According to an affidavit of probable caused filed against Houston, a neighbor reported seeing a man ride a bicycle to a home in the 100 block of Forsythia Drive on Friday afternoon. From there, Houston reportedly climbed a fence and began looking inside the home and then tried to enter it.
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Detective David Strother was first to arrive and began watching Houston, who claims to be homeless, try to pry his way into the home, according to court papers.
The sound of a siren from a responding police vehicle apparently spooked the 33-year-old and he grabbed his bicycle and fled, authorities said.
Police on foot caught up with Houston and took him into custody.
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When Strother questioned the suspect at the police station, he claimed to have only looked in the windows. The detective told Houston he saw the burglary and the 33-year-old put his head into his arms, court papers say. Houston also said, according to police, that he was homeless since he got out of jail for a previous burglary last year.
A pair of pliers and scissors, with the tip bent, were found with the suspect. Police said they suspect the items may have been used to gain entry to the home by prying the sliding glass door and bedroom window.
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Houston admitted to stealing a check from his girlfriend’s dad and writing it out to himself, police said. They added that a pawn receipt for equipment owned by his girlfriend’s father, who he worked for, was also found.
The 33-year-old said he was attempting to burglarize house – his first, he said, since his release from prison – after he ran out of cash.
Houston was charged with attempted burglary and seven other related offenses. He was arraigned and sent to Bucks County jail on 10 percent of $100,000 bail.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
