An alert neighbor foiled a burglary attempt in Tamaqua on June 13.

It was 4:21 a.m. when police received a call from a resident in the 400 block of Rolling Mill Avenue concerned that someone was in a garage to the rear of a residence on North Railroad Street.

When officers arrived they could hear noise inside the garage. When they announced themselves, the noise stopped. Entering the garage, it was clear the first floor was empty. Officers started up the steps to the second floor, again announcing “Tamaqua police.”

There was a flurry of movement and a man began climbing out of the back corner. He was wearing a headlamp and gloves and was identified as Albert M. Shaw, 34, of Mauch Chunk Street, Tamaqua.

Shaw told police he was “supposed to help someone with a roof job and was just looking over the roof”. He said he must have gotten the wrong house. He didn’t have any tools consistent with roofing on him. There were, however, several boxes and hand tools gathered in a pile in a walk way.

The owner was contacted and said no one had permission to be in the garage and the walk way had been clear earlier.

Shaw was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, Tamaqua, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking. Bail was set at $25,000 percentage. Shaw was unable to post the 10 percent and was taken to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville.