Burglar arrested after 81-year-old homeowner surprises him, police say

A burglar who bolted after being startled when the 81-year-old homeowner returned to his Seaford house Thursday night was arrested following a tussle with a police officer who had grabbed him an hour later, police said.

Erik Cardace, 37, of 3981 Beechwood Place, was arrested at 11:37 p.m., Nassau County police said. A stolen gold watch and cash were recovered, police said.

Cardace was charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree assault and will be arraigned as soon as possible after being transported to a local hospital for treatment of what police called "an unrelated medical condition."

Police said Cardace was located after an off-duty Nassau officer saw him running from the scene and supplied responding Seventh Precinct officers with a description.

Cardace had been burglarizing a home on New York Avenue when police said the 81-year-old homeowner returned to the residence -- prompting Cardace to flee the home through the front door. But, police said, Cardace was spotted by the off-duty officer and was located as he attempted to scale a fence in the backyard of a home on Charles Court.

An officer grabbed Cardace, police said, and the suspect then began "kicking and striking" the officer in the shoulder, before being arrested.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”