Two Residents Help Police Catch Alleged Burglar

An observant Surrey Lane resident helped thwart an alleged burglar’s getaway Monday.

Bernard T. Youngkin III, 23, of Grenloch, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses in the daytime burglary.

Gloucester Township Police said a resident noticed the suspect in a neighbor’s backyard, breaking into the home through a back door at 11 a.m., and contacted police. As police responded, officers reportedly saw Youngkin flee the home and jump a 6-foot fence. Officers gave chase on foot, but eventually lost sight of Youngkin.

That’s when a second alert resident told police there was a man in the backyard. Youngkin struggled with officers, police say, but was eventually put under arrest.

Officers reportedly found clothing worn by Youngkin and items taken from the burglary in a trashcan.

Youngkin was charged with burglary, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief. He was held at Camden County Jail on $50,000 bail with the option to pay 10 percent.

Youngkin has been convicted on similar crimes before, state records show. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to burglary, and was senteanced to five years probation, and to receiving stolen property in 2010, for which he received a five-year prison sentence. He was imprisoned in June 2010 and released in August 2011.