$10,000 bail set in alleged break-in; Police find coins, cash from apartment.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WORCESTER - A city man allegedly kicked down the back door of a Payson Street apartment Saturday afternoon and stole antique coins and cash from inside before a neighbor chased and caught him.

Joseph Navejas, 29, of 21 Duxbury Road, was arraigned on breaking-and-entering charges yesterday in Central District Court and was held on $10,000 cash bail. Judge Thomas F. Sullivan Jr. continued the case to Feb. 13.

Police were called to Esther Street around 2 p.m. Saturday for a report of a breaking and entering of a Payson Street apartment. Officers were told a neighbor had apprehended the suspect.

The mother of the man whose apartment was robbed approached a neighbor and said she saw a man walk onto the front porch of her son's apartment then disappear, police spokesman Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said.

The two tried to open the apartment's front door, but had some trouble so they walked around to the back door. There they saw Mr. Navejas run out, the sergeant said.

"The neighbor gave chase and...