An alert resident on Ye Old Hauto Road in Hometown is credited with helping Rush Township Police solve a burglary, before the victims even knew it occurred.

Rush Township Police Sgt. Duane Frederick received a tip at 11:23 Tuesday morning concerning a person who was going door to door, asking if residents had seen a dog. The man wasn't detailed about what type of dog he had "lost." The resident was a victim of a recent burglary and became suspicious, alerting police.Frederick went to investigate and observed a man, fitting the description given by the concerned citizen, walking along Claremont Avenue (SR 309). As the sergeant spoke with the man, the story of a search for a lost dog became even more suspicious. Frederick identified the man as Ian N. Thrasher, 37, of 233 Cedar St., Tamaqua, and asked if he could search the man's packback. Thrasher agreed. As the officer began looking in the backpack, he heard several pings, looked up and saw the suspect throwing coins and jewelry toward the Little Schuylkill River. The items struck a guide rail. Additional jewelry was then found in Thrasher's pockets.Thrasher admitted to just committing a burglary and also to a burglary on Ye Old Hauto Road in late October. He told police his life of crime was "fueled by an addiction to heroin."He was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft, and receiving stolen property. Bail was set at $50,000 straight cash. Unable to post the required bail, Thrasher was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville. Additional charges related to the October burglary are pending.Tamaqua police assisted in the search for the suspect.