(PORT CHARLOTTE) Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies caught a man in the act of burglarizing a home Sunday around 4:45 a.m. at 2448 Crocket St., Port Charlotte. The burglar removed the electric meter, however, the home alarm system had a battery backup that sent a signal to the alarm company and deputies responded.

Upon arrival, deputies saw the burglar carrying items to his red Durango pickup; the suspect dropped what he was carrying and fled into a wooded area. A perimeter was established and the suspect was apprehended. Deputies identified the man as Timothy Warren Hartman, 34, 7426 Capital Heights St., Englewood.

Deputies and detectives found a metal silver case and a pillow case with stolen items next to Hartman’s pickup; in the back in plain view were electronics equipment and a flat screen television. A window was shattered to gain entry; inside the home detectives found loose wiring where the electronics came from and rooms had been ransacked. A search of Hartman located his pickup key, a glove, jewelry, band aids, two decks of cards and currency. They also found a prescription bottle that belonged to the homeowner, who is out of town. Detectives also noticed fresh cuts and blood on his body and blood on his pants. Hartman declined to comment except for asking to speak to a lawyer. He was charged with Burglary and Grand Theft.

Hartman was transported to the Charlotte County Jail where he remains on no bond due to his being a twice convicted felon and having 17 bookings into the CCSO Jail.