Police: Off-duty cop foils attempt to steal car BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE - An off-duty police officer stopped a car burglary in progress on a residential township street Tuesday. The incident resulted in the arrest of Patrick Schember, 26, of Harrison, on charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. "Apparently, this guy was trying to steal the car to get a ride home to Harrison," Old Bridge Police Lt. Robert Moser said. Patrolman Charles Miller was off duty when he noticed a suspicious man inside his neighbor's 2003 Honda Civic at 10:30 a.m., Moser said. The suspect had allegedly broken into the vehicle, parked on Austin Avenue, off Englishtown Road, and was trying to start the car. Miller approached Schember, identifying himself as a police officer. Schember reportedly told Miller that the car was his and then fled the scene on foot when Miller disputed his claim, Moser said. Miller caught the suspect after a protracted foot pursuit and held the suspect until backup police officers arrived. When Miller returned to the victim's vehicle, he found the steering column pulled out and a hammer and prying tool inside the car. Schember is being held at Middlesex County Correction Center in North Brunswick on $25,000 bail. "He did a very good job," Moser said. "He was an off duty officer, but he cares about the community he lives in and he got involved. It's a tribute to Officer Miller for doing that." "He stuck his neck out on the line when he was not in uniform," Moser added. "He did his job. I guess you can say he's a police officer 24 hours a day, seven days a week."