Track Star Meter Reader Chases Down Burglar: Police
Meter reader called 911 while running for blocks after the suspect
NBCPhiladelphia.com
Electric meter man Vincent DeJesus chased down a burglar after he saw the suspect climbing out of a window.
A visit from the meter reader usually means a bill is coming your way. For one Linwood household, it meant the preservation of all their belongings.
Vincent DeJesus, a Millennium electric meter reader and former high school track star, saved the day when he was working in a Linwood neighborhood 10 a.m. Thursday and saw a man trying to burglarize a home on the 2100 block Grammercy Avenue.
DeJesus approached the alleged burglar, who ran away with the former track star at his heels. DeJesus called 911 and held a conversation with a police dispatcher while keeping up with the suspect.
“I yelled what are you doing and he starting running,” DeJesus told NBC Philadelphia. “I don’t know what came over me. I just started running after him too.”
The chase lasted for several blocks, and DeJesus didn’t stop running until police arrived and arrested the man.
William Decamp, 20, of Galloway Township, was arrested on charges of attempted burglary. Police also charged Decamp with two other burglaries, as well as the armed robbery of the Linwood Gulf gas station that occurred in December 2008.
The owner of that station had nothing but praise for DeJesus after learning what he did.
"My hat goes out to that gentleman. It was very nice of him...for the community. That guy definitely needed to get off the street," said Brian McNellis.
But what about the owner's of the home Decamp burglarized? They didn't want to talk.
DeJesus, who ran track for Pleasantville High School from 1995-98, said he had no trouble keeping up with Decamp.
"If I get an award, you know, don't get me wrong, I'm gonna love it and be proud of it, but it's just something that, I think, you should do, period," he said.
Posted Friday, Jan 29, 2010 - 3:12 PM EST
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