A woman confronted a burglar at her West Jefferson Street home Monday, then patted him down when he claimed he didn't steal anything, an Ann Arbor police report said.
The 19-year-old Ann Arbor man was arrested and taken to Washtenaw County Jail after he ran from police and hid in a Dumpster, the report said.
The 25-year-old resident left her home to take her dog for a walk at about 1:15 p.m. and left a door unlocked, according to the report. Her male roommate was home.
The woman returned to find a man in the doorway and asked him why he was holding a bag she owns, the report said. She looked in the bag, saw her laptop computer, and accused the man of trying to steal it.
The man said he was simply looking to do yard work in the area and told her she could pat him down, according to the report.
She patted him down, told him to leave and called her boyfriend, the report said.
Police were in the area after receiving two other 911 calls about a suspicious activity in the neighborhood. The man was caught in a Dumpster near Keppler Court, the report said.
The area where the burglary occurred is in the city's Old West Side.
Police say the city's west side has experienced a spate of break-ins since May, but investigators said yesterday that the rash of break-ins appears to have subsided, due in part to arrests like the one Monday.
A meeting is planned in the neighborhood tonight.
Ann Arbor Police Lt. Renee Bush urged people not confront strangers and be aware of their surroundings.
"Leave the area because you don't know if the person intends to harm you or your family," she said. "Call 911 immediately."
The man has not yet been arraigned on any charges.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
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