POLICE: Drunk burglar calls 911, says he's stuck in house

TERRI SANGINITI • The News Journal • January 6, 2011

New Castle County police and firefighters from Brandywine Hundred Fire Company were sent to a Bellefonte home about 2:30 p.m. to check on the welfare of a man who had called 911 asking for help, said agency spokesman Officer John Weglarz Sr.

Arriving officers talked to a man through an open rear window – the same window that he broke to get into the house, Weglarz said. 

An investigation revealed that the man, identified as 44-year-old John Finch, did not live there, but had been stuck inside the home in the 800 block of Woodsdale Road for a few days and couldn’t get out. 

During his stay, the homeless man said he had consumed three bottles of Seagrams gin and two bottles of Seagrams whiskey. 

But in his inebriated state, he was not able to climb back out the window, Weglarz said. 

He also was unable to unlock the main doors because they were bolted from both sides. 

The elderly occupant had not been home for a few days. 

Rescue workers were able free him and he was promptly arrested, Weglarz said. 

He said there was an outstanding warrant for Finch’s arrest on burglary and felony theft charges because he had allegedly broke into the same home in April. 

Finch was linked to the first break-in through fingerprints left at the scene. 

Finch was charged with two counts each of second-degree burglary and felony theft for the two burglaries. 

Bail information was not immediately available.

John Finch