Police are praising a handful of Erial residents following the arrests of three men in connection with a residential burglary on Essex Avenue Monday morning.

Gloucester Township Police say an alert citizen called 911 at 11:52 a.m. Monday to report a burglary in progress on Essex Avenue.

The caller's quick tip, which included suspect descriptions, allowed police to quickly set up a perimeter in the area, Sgt. John Swack said. Officers responding to the scene were also informed of the suspects' direction of travel by other residents who were outside and observed them fleeing the area.

Police identified the three men accused in the burglary as Erial residents.

Two of the suspects were quickly apprehended by perimeter and roving police officers, while an off-duty Gloucester Township police officer who was working a road construction job in the area apprehended the third suspect, Swack said.

During the investigation, police recovered stolen property that was positively identified by the victim as being taken from the Essex Avenue residence.

Personnel from the Gloucester Township Police Department's Investigation Bureau and Crime Scene Property Unit also responded to the scene and assisted with this case.  

The following suspects were arrested, charged with the noted criminal offenses, and remanded to Camden County Jail in default of $50,000 bail:

• Zachry Andrews, 21, of Brookshire Road - burglary and theft
• Donte Bryson, 20, of Prospect Avenue - burglary and theft
• Ameer A. Hinson, 20, Cottage Gated Road - burglary, theft and obstruction by flight