Lindenhurst burglary spree ended by action of an alert neighbor

A burglary spree in Lindenhurst earlier this week ended after the actions of a sharp-eyed neighbor.

Joshua Michael Joyce, who police say went on a burglary spree early Tuesday, was caught not long after his last stop because a neighbor gave police the suspect’s license plate number and description.

“It was very fortunate. It would have been much more difficult to apprehend the individual,” said Lindenhurst police Cmdr. George Moravec.

Joyce, 20, of the 200 block of Beck Road in Lindenhurst, was charged with 20 counts ranging from residential burglary, burglary to motor vehicles, criminal damage to property, theft and unlawful use of credit cards in connection with a series of break-ins in the pre-dawn hours.

According to police, Joyce’s activities were on Egret Court to Rolling Ridge Lane.

“He started on one side and went house to house to house,” Moravec said. The intruder had broken into one home and several cars before making what turned out to be the last stop.

About 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, a resident of one home was awake and heard a noise. Checking, the resident met the would-be intruder “nose to nose at the kitchen window” scaring him off, Moravec said. A neighbor had noticed an unknown vehicle parked in front and saw a man get in and drive off, police said.

“The neighbor observed this vehicle that didn’t belong in front of the house and was able to get the license plate number,” Moravec said. The neighbor also provided a description of the vehicle and of the person who drove away.

Police began searching for Joyce, who was apprehended after he returned home not long after the call, according to Moravec. In the interim, Joyce used the stolen credit cards, he added.

Entry to the home that was burglarized was made through an unlocked overheard garage door, police said. A GPS unit, radar detectors, laptop computer and video gaming system were among the items taken and quickly recovered.

“He (Joyce) just threw everything in his car as he went along and just dumped it along a roadside in unincorporated Antioch,” Moravec said.

Joyce posted the required 10 percent or $5,000 of the $50,000 bond and was released Wednesday from the Lake County jail. A court date was set for Sept. 11.