By Terri SanginitiThe News Journal

A selfie taken in the home of a friend led to the arrest of a Dewey Beach man last weekend after police learned he had been sleeping there uninvited while the family was not there, police said Friday.

Thomas Timlin, 26, was charged April 5 with two counts each of burglary and four counts of theft under $1,500, Sgt. Clifford Dempsey said.

The investigation began last week when the 57-year-old homeowner reported a burglary to police at the McKinley Street home.

The homeowner, who lives in Pennsylvania and comes down to Dewey Beach on the weekends, told investigators that on Feb. 16 he let Timlin sleep at the residence. He said he has not seen him since.

But over the next several weekends, the family began noticing that food and drinks were missing from the home and they realized that someone had been staying there, Dempsey said.

Last week, a family member was given a photo of Timlin apparently taken in the home after Feb. 16 when he was last seen there.

Officers removed evidence from the home and obtained warrants for Timlin on burglary and theft charges. Timlin was also wanted on active capiases from several courts in Sussex County.

While conducting a property check at the house on Saturday, officers found Timlin inside sleeping on the couch, Dempsey said.

Timlin was committed to the Sussex County Correctional Institution after failing to post $8,000 secured bail.

Contact Terri Sanginiti at 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com