Man charged with breaking into Old Lyme home

OLD LYME — An area man faces burglary and trespassing charges after he allegedly broke into a home in Old Lyme and was seen by a juvenile resident, police said.

Benjamin Dahm, 31, of Gales Ferry in Ledyard, was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct. His bond was set at $50,000 and he was expected in New London court on Tuesday.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, troopers responded to a Meetinghouse Lane home after a juvenile called police to report that when he came home he found an unknown man in his house.

When units got to the home, they found a shirtless man inside the home and a Jeep in the garage with license plates that did not belong to anyone who lives at the house, police said. Troopers set up a perimeter and tried to make contact with the man inside without any luck.

Troopers found the door to the basement unlocked and went inside to search the house. Police said they found the man, later identified as Dahm, hiding in an upstairs bathroom. He was taken into custody without incident.