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Jupiter police: Ring doorbell helps them catch burglary suspect

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Posted at 11:31 AM, Aug 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-23 11:33:49-04

Police say a quick-thinking homeowner and a Ring doorbell camera helped them catch a burglary suspect in Jupiter Thursday.

The homeowner told police she was walking her dog when an alert on her phone indicated someone was at her front door which happened to be unlocked. She said she watched through the Ring app as a man open the door and walk in.

She was down the street at the time and called 911 and gave the operator a description of the car the man was driving as he left the area.

Officers located the car and stopped the driver who they identified as 57-year-old Tony Bennett of North Palm Beach.

When questioned Bennett said he was supposed to meet a client for personal training and after knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell he left, according to a probable cause affidavit.

He was told video showed him entering the home but Bennett said the video was lying and it wasn't true, the police report stated.

As an officer drove Bennett to the police station he was asked again about the incident. According to the affidavit, Bennett said, "OK, I rang the doorbell and when no one answered I opened the door and went inside the house. I didn't take anything. I left after I walked into the living room area."

Police have charged him with burglary. His bond was set at $3,000.