Toms River Homeowner Thwarts Burglary, Holds Suspect

A Toms River 47-year-old is being credited with foiling a burglary at his own house and pinning the suspect to the ground until police arrived.

According to information from Toms River police, the homeowner left the garage door of his Golf View Boulevard dwelling open while taking a brief walk late Thursday morning. Police said he returned to find Braulio Cruz astride a Mongoose bicycle that belonged in the garage.

Cruz tried pulling away but the homeowner grabbed and held him, police said.

Cruz told officers that he's homeless but listed his last address as Rockwell Avenue in Long Branch, police said. He was charged with burglary and theft and held on $1,000 bail in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.