(Feb. 17, 2007) -- LBPD says an alert LB citizen who lives in the Cal Heights area recently helped police apprehend a neighborhood burglary suspect.

LBPD says in a release that on February 16 at about 8:40 a.m., the resident spotted a suspicious person at a neighbors' home and called the police. Officers responded and found that the residence had, in fact, been burglarized.

The alert neighbor also managed to get the license plate number of the suspect's car...and an LBPD vehicle equipped with a license plate reader system helped officers locate the car a short time later; officers took the suspect into into custody without incident.

LBPD says the suspect was recently released from prison and is on parole for drug related offenses. He's been charged with several violations including residential burglary; several items allegedly stolen from the residence, including jewelry, clothes and electronics, were recovered.

"Law Enforcement, alert citizens, neighborhood and business watch programs and people who take pride in this community can all share in the opportunity of making Long Beach, 'The Safest Large City.'" LBPD says in its release.