LAWRENCE — Police started off the new year by arresting a man as he stood on the porch of an unoccupied Prospect Street apartment that had just been burglarized.

It was the first reported break-in of 2009.

And, police said, it turns out Jose Huertas, 29, of 3 Berkeley St. was also wanted on a warrant for a burglary Nov. 5 in the apartment building where he lives.

"They all should be so easy," police Chief John Romero said as he displayed drill bits, gloves, utility knives and a headband flashlight confiscated from Huertas.

Romero said a resident called police about 1:43 a.m. on Saturday after hearing drilling at the front door of the apartment house at 296 Prospect St.

Officers Ted Czarnecki Jr. and Chris Bussey found a freshly drilled hole in the front door next to the lock and fresh sawdust in the snow.

The officers then went to the third-floor apartment where they found Huertas standing on the porch.

Romero said Huertas told officers he was waiting for a friend to come home.

Police are puzzled as to why Huertas would break into a vacant apartment.

"It might have been empty, but there might have been something he was looking to take," Romero said. "He might not have known it was empty."

Romero said Huertas is no stranger to this type of activity.

He was arrested in November and charged with breaking into an apartment at 11 Berkeley St. and stealing a laptop computer.

Huertas was released in that case after his arraignment in Lawrence District Court, but appears to have skipped another court date because officers found a warrant for his arrest, Romero said.

He was also charged in that case with breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony and larceny, according to police reports.

After his arrest Saturday, Huertas was charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, possession of burglary tools, and trespassing, Romero said.

Sophie Kobrinski, owner of the building at 296 Prospect St., told the officers the apartment had been vacant for about two months, police said.

Romero said the arrest was significant because police have seen an increase in residential burglaries in the Prospect Hill area.

He praised the resident who called police and said Czarnecki and Bussey did a good job getting to the scene in time to catch Huertas.

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