Jackson Heights Man Catches Burglar In His Apartment: NYPD

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS -- A wannabe burglar is on the run after he was caught red-handed trying to break into a Jackson Heights apartment by the man who lives there, police said.

The unidentified man, estimated to be in his 50s, wore a flat cap as he broke into an apartment complex near 34th Avenue and 82nd Street by picking the door lock at around 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, cops said.

He then made his way into the complex's courtyard, where he yanked an air conditioning unit from an apartment's side windows and slid through the empty space, authorities said.

But police said the the wannabe thief ran into an unexpected surprise on the other side of the window: The 38-year-old man living in the apartment was standing there to greet him.

The thief bolted from the apartment and ran north on 82nd Street, cops said.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Lead photo via NYPD