Howell Burglar Nabbed When Stolen Getaway Car Is Blocked: Police

HOWELL, NJ -- Rule No. 1 for robbing a home: Don't park your stolen getaway vehicle in the driveway, where you can be blocked in.

That's what Howell police say happened Saturday night when a Howell resident interrupted a burglary in progress on Asbury Avenue. And police say it led to the capture of the alleged burglar.

Scott Hahn, 52, was being held in the Monmouth County Jail Saturday night as a result of the incident, Howell police said. Hahn lives in an apartment on Route 33 in Wall, they said.

Police say the resident, who lives near Toms Tavern, came home to find the suspect in the house. The suspect, later identified as Hahn, ran out of the house but found the stolen vehicle he drove there was blocked in by the resident, police said.

Hahn then ran off, and Howell police set up a perimeter while Sgt. Nicholas Bondarew and his K9 partner Vito tracked him, police said.

About an hour later, Patrolman Nick Austin saw Hahn running across the Collingswood Circle with K9 Vito close behind, and Austin caught Hahn, police said. Hahn was arrested and found to be wanted by South Carolina law enforcement in connection with a stolen vehicle, police said.

The resident of the Asbury Avenue home positively identified Hahn as the burglar, police said, adding they are investigating to see if he is connected to a burglary that happened at a Megill Road home on Saturday morning.

Anyone with information regarding these investigations is asked to contact police headquarters at 732-938-4111.

Image via Howell Township Police Facebook page