An eyewitness to an Orange house burglary yesterday was credited with alerting the police to the crime and later identifying the suspects so they could be arrested.

Police Director Charles Cobbertt said the suspects, East Orange residents James Perry, 40, of Watson Avenue, and James Allen, 28, of South Grove Street, were taken into custody on Heywood Avenue near Berkeley Avenue.

Both men were arrested about 11:35 a.m., shortly after they illegally entered a Heywood Avenue home, ransacked the residence and stole some jewelry, he said.

According to Cobbertt, the pair got into the residence by breaking a glass front door and exited through a rear door.

Within moments after the police got word of the break-in, Cobbertt continued, Officers Michael Crowley, Phil Marinaccio and Edward Ruff, along with Police Detective Ronald Rogers, sped in patrol cars over to Heywood Avenue.

When the police arrived there, Cobbertt said, they met the eyewitness who in turn pointed out the fleeing suspects. The police captured the suspects after a brief foot chase, he added.

Much credit must go to the alert neighbor, Cobbertt reiterated, especially for his "cooperativeness in acting as our extended eyes and ears" in the community.

The police director said both Perry and Allen were charged with burglary and breaking and entering.

Cobbertt said Perry has no known occupation. And he said Allen told authorities he was employed as a sandblaster.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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