Neighbor's Watchful Eye Helps Police Catch Alleged Burglar In Hackensack

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A robbery in New Jersey has a lot of people scratching their heads. A man allegedly robbed an apartment in a two-family house, but didn't quite think the crime through.

Mark Harrison's home in Hackensack was burglarized Monday night. The alleged burglar got away with PS3s, sports jerseys, fitted caps and jewelry, Harrison said.

Police said as the suspect went through Harrison's stuff, a neighbor upstairs noticed a car parked in their driveway, so she snapped a photo of the vehicle.

"She went well beyond what a lot of neighbors would do," Harrison told CBS 2's Christine Sloan.

What Harrison's neighbor did was capture the suspect's car and license plate.  That evidence helped police nab Eduardo Masdeu.

"That was his first mistake. You actually had the audacity to park in my driveway and then you rob my house and then someone you sees you. He's a dummy," Harrison said.

Police said it didn't take them long to trace the vehicle back to Masdeu. Authorities said the car was a rental and they were able to find out who rented it.

The neighbor told police she saw the suspect in the driveway with pillow cases stuffed with goods. She confronted the suspect, but he ignored her and took off in the car as she gave chase.

"She wasn't just savvy, she was very brave because to take on someone and actually follow them and do what she did, she had to put herself in harm's way," Harrison said.

Police have been able to recover some of Harrison's electronics, but said the jewelry more than likely has been pawned off.

Would you do the same for your neighbor? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...