A Shirley man is accused of going on a brazen pre-dawn burglary spree, creeping into occupied Long Island homes while residents slept, before cops tracked him down hiding in a Medford backyard, police said.
Tyamie Bell, 45, allegedly targeted three homes in a terrifying three-hour rampage that stretched from Gordon Heights to Medford, according to Suffolk County Police.
The chaos began around 2:46 a.m. when Sixth Precinct officers responded to a reported break-in at a home on Erna Drive in Gordon Heights.
Less than 90 minutes later, police were called to another occupied home burglary on nearby Judith Drive at about 4:03 a.m., authorities said.
As officers flooded the neighborhood searching for the suspect, a cop spotted a man attempting to enter a third home on Norfleet Lane at approximately 5:20 a.m., police said. The suspect bolted on foot when he realized he had been seen.
The frantic manhunt ended minutes later when officers found Bell hiding in the yard of a home on Gray Avenue in Medford at about 5:25 a.m., cops said.
Police arrested Bell without further incident.
Investigators said nothing was stolen during the break-ins and no residents were physically injured — but the terrifying encounters rattled homeowners across the quiet residential communities.
Bell, who lives at 428 Revilo Ave. in Shirley, was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, a felony offense involving unlawful entry into occupied homes.
He was being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police have not said whether Bell knew any of the victims or if additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.