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Cops: ‘Brave’ teen confronts burglar, helps police track down suspect

A 16-year-old in Flanders chased a Greenport man out of a Glider Avenue home to thwart a burglary attempt and helped police track down the man leading to his arrest, Southampton Town police said.

Police charged Wade Hackett, 43, with two counts of second-degree burglary after the Nov. 5 incident, police said.

Mr. Hackett allegedly entered the home and was confronted when the boy returned home amid the break-in at around 6:05 p.m., police said. The teen chased Mr. Hackett out of the home and through a wooded area that adjoined the property. Mr. Hackett refused to drop the electronics and jewelry he had allegedly taken, police said.

The “brave young man,” according to a police press release, followed Mr. Hackett to his vehicle parked on the road and took down a description that he later relayed to police. An officer spotted the vehicle about eight miles away and pulled over Mr. Hackett.

He was identified by the victim and arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. Police determined that Mr. Hackett entered both the main residence and an apartment and stole items from both locations, police said.

Second-degree burglary is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The arrest comes amid a string of crimes committed in the Flanders area, including a total of 42 cars that have been reportedly “rifled through” along Flanders Road. Three armed men broke into a home on Flanders Road Monday night. Police also arrested a 24-year-old man Sunday after he allegedly entered a Birch Court home in Northampton without permission.

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