Red Bank police arrested two 18-year-old borough men today shortly after a Mechanic Street resident reported she surprised the pair in the midst of burglarizing her home.

The incident unfolded after the 26-year-old resident returned home around 11:06a and noticed a porch window open that had been previously closed, said Capt. Steve McCarthy, who heads up the detective bureau and serves as department spokesman.

She also saw two bicycles in the front yard that didn’t belong there.

As she approached, the woman saw a man inside.

The man spotted the woman and fled out a side door, exiting with a second person, McCarthy said.

The resident called police and “was able to give a pretty good description” of the pair, McCarthy said.

Not long afterward, Ptl George Travostino spotted two young men who matched the descriptions walking along Washington Stree, just a few blocks away. When they saw the officer, they discarded a backpack that was later found to contain proceeds from the burglary, McCarthy said.

Travostino arrested the pair without incident, McCarthy said.

Charged with burglary and theft are Melvin Leggard of South Pearl Street and Iziere Ashton of South Bridge Avenue. Municipal Judge William Himmelman set bail for each at $70,000.

Late this afternoon, Ashton and Leggard were in custody pending transfer to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute.

Sgt. Robert Gannon, Ptl. John Camarca and Det. Robert Clayton assisted with the arrest and investigation.

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