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Police: Man arrested in Northeast Philadelphia burglaries

Published  September 18, 2017 10:35pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Police say they have arrested a man in connection with burglaries in Northeast Philadelphia.

Terence McNally had just gotten home from work when he heard a noise inside his Medford Road home in Northeast Philly. That's when he came face-to-face with a knife-wielding burglar who had just broken into his house, according to McNally.

"I hit the light and turned around. There he was standing there," McNally told FOX 29 Monday night. "He ran to the door. He turned around with a knife and said, You don't have a gun give me your wallet.' I said, 'I'm gonna go get my gun.' I took a few steps towards the kitchen." That gave him time to run out the door and down the street."

McNally managed to scare the alleged burglar off but not before he grabbed his wife's wallet, credit cards and cash. He's one of more than a dozen homeowners in this neighborhood victimized by a burglary suspect since early August, according to police.

"They were all mostly overnight burglaries. The screens removed. The person enters the house while people are sleeping in the house," Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum of Northeast Detectives said.

Over the weekend, police say they arrested 34-year-old Jason Hilbert and charged him in six burglaries. He's a suspect in nine more. According to police, the alleged burglar has stolen thousands of dollars in cash, cell phones, computers and four cars.

"We've arrested him on numerous occasions, including prior burglaries in the same area back in 2011 and 12," Lt. Rosenbaum added.

Investigators say most of the burglaries have occurred in the very same neighborhood where Hilbert lives. He was picked up Friday after he allegedly broke into three homes in an hour.

"He had proceeds from three other burglaries in his possession," Lt. Rosenbaum said.

Hilbert's bail was set at $300,000. He has multiple prior arrests, but never served more than two years in prison according to court records. Police are waiting for fingerprints and DNA in connection with some of the other burglaries.