Authorities say a 22-year-old Runnemede man ransacked his neighbor's home, stole items then tore out the gas lines.

Police lights. (David Lentz, ThinkStock)
Police lights. (David Lentz, ThinkStock)
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William Guennette is being charged with three counts of burglary, and one count each of possession of stolen property and creating widespread disaster and destruction in connection with three similar incidents in which gas lines were torn out of homes, Runnemede Police said Thursday.

Authorities said on Thursday morning at 10:16 a.m., police responded to North Read Avenue for a reported odor of natural gas. When they arrived in the area, responding officers found that a home on the 300-block of the street had been burglarized. Upon entering the residents, police found that someone had ransacked the house and ripped the gas lines from the basement, causing the natural gas odor.

Emergency crews responded and vented the home to allow the natural gas to dissipate, police said. Following further investigation of the scene, the homeowner's neighbor, later identified as Guennette, was connected to the incident and arrested, authorities said.

The victim's property was recovered and through additional investigation, police said. Guennette was also charged in connection with two similar incidents in which gas lines were torn from homes approximately on week ago.

Guenette was transported to Camden County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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