Man 'butt-dials' cops, leads them on burglary trail
08/10/2015 5:49 pm PDT
A New Jersey man was arrested after he "butt-dialed" police, allowing them to track his alleged burglary plans.
Scott Esser, 42, inadvertently dialed the Somerset County Communications Center in New Jersey on July 27, about 45 miles west of New York City. NJ.com reports dispatchers listened to Esser and another party discussing apparent burglary plans.
An area home was later broken into and jewelry was stolen from the location.
Police traced the phone back to Esser and began following him the next day, according to NJ.com. He was followed to a residence that was broken into in the same manner as the residence on the previous day; police stopped him after the second burglary.
Police executed a search warrant on the car and found jewelry, electronic devices, a Playstation system, a .38-caliber handgun, U.S. bonds worth about $11,300 and burglary tools, according to NJ.com.
Esser was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree theft, three counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, and second degree burglary. He was held on $100,000 bond.