Police Investigate 'Strange' South Nyack Burglary

are continuing to investigate an alleged burglary that took place Wednesday afternoon and is linked to suspicious activity earlier this month, officials said.

A Cedar Hill Avenue residents living in a multi-family home returned to his door to find it ajar last week, with a man standing in the frame, police said. The stranger claimed to be selling energy saving techniques and products; the resident told the man he was not interested.

On Wednesday afternoon at about 2:30 p.m.—days after the initial encounter—the South Nyack resident spotted the stranger again while walking home. Upon returning to his apartment, the resident noticed his laptop was missing.

The man then left his apartment, retraced his steps and confronted the stranger, who had his computer.

"There was a brief struggle," said Robert Van Cura, South Nyack-Grand View's police chief. Van Cura said the resident recovered his laptop, and the alleged burglar fled.

"He was last seen Wednesday afternoon, running east on Brookside Avenue," Van Cura said.

Police describe the alleged burglar as a black male, approximately 35-years-old, between 5'10" and 6 feet. He was wearing jeans and a grey jacket with a horizontal black stripe emblazoned on it.

Van Cura said authorities are continuing to canvas the area, though there have been no tips since Wednesday.

"So far, no one in the neighborhood has called about it," he said. "We're asking people to call us if they see someone fitting that description who is attempting to sell energy products."