Mandeville police officers arrest burglary suspect

A Mandeville man caught red-handed burglarizing a home was captured by police without incident.

Last Wednesday, a resident in the 600 block of Marilyn Drive arrived home to a beige Lexus parked in font of her house.

Upon entering the residence, the homeowner found 41-year-old James Planche Jr., 66019 Oak St., in the act of burglarizing her home.

Planche fled the scene after being discovered, but not before the homeowner recorded the license plate number on the Lexus.

Police were notified, and the plate numbers led them to Planche’s residence. A search of the residence uncovered the clothing described by the victim, who later positively identified Planche as the subject she found in her home.

He was arrested, charged with residence burglary and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

Capt. Ron Ruple with the Mandeville Police Department said no forced entry to the residence was found, and it appears the homeowner confronted Planche before anything was stolen.

A background check revealed Planche had a previous theft and simple robbery charge.