Police: Neighborly tip leads to burglary arrest

A man was arrested by police leaving a house he had allegedly broken into thanks to a tip from a neighbor.

UPPER UWCHLAN >> A Philadelphia man was taken into custody by township police leaving a house he had allegedly broken into and taken various items, after a suspicious neighbor contacted authorities about his presence at the property.

Police on Monday charged Ryan Code, 34, of North Camac Street in Philadelphia, with burglary, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, criminal trespass, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Code was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Lori Donatelli, who set bail at $10,000 cash on the charges. He was taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post bail, and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.

According to a statement by police, at approximately 7 a.m. Monday police responded to the home in the 600 block of Greenridge Road north of Marsh Creek Lake for a report of a suspicious person. The call was made by an observant neighbor that witnessed a man at a residence in

which the homeowners were away at the time.

Police arrived and apprehended a man later identified as Code exiting the inside of the home, and attempting to flee into a wooded area behind the house. In the course of the investigation, police discovered a first-floor door had been forced open.

Code allegedly had items in his possession that were taken from the inside of the house. Police conducted a search of the area around the home and discovered that items from the house were located in the wooded area within close proximity of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. All the items stolen in the alleged burglary have been recovered, with assistance from the Chester County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit, and police from West Vincent and Uwchlan.

Upper Uwchlan police emphasized the need for community members to call 911 when they observe a suspicious vehicle or person in their neighborhood. The immediate action of members from the community was instrumental in the apprehension of this subject, police said.