Police: Burglar Alarm Scared Away Thief

Chalk one up for the home security system.

Despite their purported usefulness, all too often these mechanical devices get a bad rap for crying wolf. Whether they are set off by a careless homeowner, a power outage or sometimes for no apparent reason, the common reaction is to ignore them or simply shut them off as quickly as possible to stop their ear-piercing annoyance.

An Upper Milford Township resident probably had a few choice words for his system as he was awakened at an untimely hour one recent night. But police said the alarm system on this occasion thwarted an intended intruder.

Michael Makoul of 6600 Granville Road was jolted out of bed at 1:30 a.m. July 7. As he went to shut off the alarm, he noticed a 1990s Chevrolet Caprice Classic or a similar model leaving his driveway to the rear of his home, according to .

Further investigation revealed that someone had attempted to open his basement door, setting off the security system, police said. Nothing was reported taken.

Police investigated the incident as an attempted burglary.