Homeowner Catches Fair Lawn Man Breaking Into His Home, Detains Him: Police

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A resident caught a man trying to burglarize his home Saturday morning and held him on the ground until police arrived, said Chief Glen Cauwels.

Police responded to a Lyncrest Avenue home shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday on a report of a burglary, Cauwels said.

The homeowner was awakened by someone talking on a cell phone outside the home and then heard the screen being opened on his bedroom window, the chief said.

Stephen Raible, 52, then tried to open the front door of the home, but the homeowner climbed out of his bedroom window, pushed Raible to the ground, and held him there until police arrived, Cauwels said.

After he was taken to headquarters, police saw Raible throw a controlled substance into the toilet in the holding cell, police said. Raible was charged with attempted burglary, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and destruction of evidence.

Raible's bail was set at $35,000 with no 10 percent option. He was turned over to the Bergen County Sheriff's Department at Bergen Regional Medical Center for treatment, Cauwels said.

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