Boston police catch thief after Allston B&E

A Roslindale man is in custody for breaking and entering after he was seen crawling into an Allston apartment window on Saturday.

A witness watched as the backpack-toting suspect, 34-year-old Antony McLean, forced open the first-floor window in the area of 21 Chester St. and climbed inside, according to a police report.

McLean ran from police when officers who responded to the scene spotted him standing in a rear alley near the alleged robbery, the report said. He was arrested without incident after a brief foot pursuit, according to police.

Police recovered several items allegedly stolen from the home, which had reportedly been stashed in McLean’s backpack, and returned them to the apartment’s owner, the report said.

McLean is due to appear in Brighton District Court on charges of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property. He also faces the charge of being ‘a common and notorious thief,’ police said.