UPDATED: Suspect caught after attemped burglary

Police arrested a burglar Wednesday morning after he tried to crawl in an open apartment window and was surprised by a woman as she prepared to go to work.

Arrested and booked for burglary was Michael Murray, 26, an Ahwatukee Foothills resident.

Police say he first knocked on an apartment at the Pacific Bay apartment complex, 11221 S. 51st St., around 7:30 a.m. Sgt. Leonard Piñuelas said the woman inside used the peep hole before opening the door, and when she didn't recognize him she went back to bed.

About an hour later, as she was preparing for work, Piñuelas said she heard a noise in her bedroom and found the same man had pulled the screen off the window and was crawling in.

"Obviously she sees him, and he sees her, and she yells," Piñuelas said.

The victim saw Murray flee and escape in a white Chevrolet Malibu.

Immediately, the victim called police and officers from the Neighborhood Enforcement Unit, who happened to be nearby, saw the suspect drive across the street to the post office at 51st Street and Cheyenne Drive where Piñuelas said he tried to hunch down and hide.

The victim identified Murray, who also had an outstanding warrant for not paying a fine and whose drivers' license was also suspended, according to Piñuelas.

Police suspect that Murray was casing out the complex when he first came to the door, possibly attempting to see if anyone was home.

"If you see someone that you don't recognize, call us," Piñuelas said.

He also suggested that people need to be cautious when leaving windows open, even just a crack.

"It's a difficult choice, but crime being what it is, you need to be extra cautious about leaving windows open, even when inside, because burglars are opportunist, and if you give them the slightest window of opportunity, no pun intended, they will remove the screen and crawl in the open window," Piñuelas said.