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Noisy Burglar Arrested After Phone Call From Neighbor In Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) – A noisy burglar will be making noise in prison after an observant neighbor prompted his arrest.

Around 4 p.m. on June 4, a Wilmington woman heard loud banging noises coming from a vacant residence next door to her on Elm Street.

When the woman looked out her window, she saw a man hanging from the second floor window of the house next door trying to dislodge a downspout with a sledgehammer.

Though the suspect claimed to be a contractor, the woman wasn't fooled.

She called police, who promptly arrested 55-year-old Joseph Scales, of Wilmington, who still had the sledgehammer in his possession when police confronted him.

Scales was taken into police custody without incident. He is now facing charges of burglary and criminal mischief, as well as related charges.

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