Police say a 43-year-old burglar trying to flee a weekend break-in in Hephzibah broke his neck while jumping from a deck and is now paralyzed.

Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Carrier said Carl Thur­mond was in the middle of a burglary on Daisy Lane about 9 p.m. when someone came home.

In an attempt to get away, the Hephzibah man jumped from the deck but landed on his head. He was taken to a hospital with broken vertebrae.

When authorities arrived, Thurmond still had a remote from a TV he was attempting to steal in his pocket, police said.