TURNER — Police nabbed an alleged burglar at the scene of the crime Tuesday after the homeowner spotted him hiding in her garage.

Maine State Police Trooper Michael Chavez responded to a call from Jillian Saar who told a dispatcher that a strange vehicle was parked in her driveway. She later saw someone peek out of her garage door, then quickly close it. A man emerged from behind her General Turner Hill Road home and got into his vehicle as she continued to watch.

But the man, later identified as Andrew Washer, 42, of Lewiston wasn’t able to escape in time, according to a written release from Maine State Police.

Chavez arrived in time to catch Washer before he could flee. Washer told police he saw a broken door and wanted to investigate in case a burglar was inside. He was just being a good Samaritan, he said.

Another officer, Trooper Eric Paquette, cleared Saar’s home and found no one inside. Maine Warden Jeremy Judd assisted at the scene.

The officers processed the scene for evidence and concluded that Washer’s story “didn’t add up,” State Police said.

Police found items missing from Saar’s home in Washer’s vehicle, including alcohol. A neighbor was missing a laptop computer that matched the description of the one found in Washer’s vehicle.

Washer was charged with two counts of burglary and theft, along with one charge of violation of conditions of release. He was driven to Androscoggin County Jail where he was booked. Police got a search warrant for Washer’s vehicle, which was impounded.

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