Burglary suspect arrested after calling for help from crime scene

A Wilmington man faces burglary charges after calling 9-1-1 from the home he was allegedly burglarizing.  Police say the suspect also drank several bottles of booze. 

New Castle County Police say a call to 9-1-1 came Wednesday afternoon from a man at a home in the 800-block of Woodsdale Road in Bellevue Manor.  Officers began to speak with 44-year-old John Finch through an open rear window.  They discovered Finch did not live there, but he indicated he had been at the home for a few days.  It was learned that he had consumed three bottles of gin and two bottles of whiskey.

Police say due to his inebriated state, Finch was not able to exit the home through the window he had used to get in, and that he placed the call when he learned that the two main doors were locked from both sides.  Officers got into the home and took Finch into custody.

The 81-year-old homeowner was not around during the incident.

Finch was the subject of an outstanding warrant charging him with burglarizing the same residence in April of last year.  Fingerprints lifted from the scene were found to match Finch’s fingerprints. 

Arraignment for Finch is pending on two counts each of burglary and felony theft.