Cops use heat sensors to find a California burglary suspect hiding in a 'well-disguised' TREEHOUSE - complete with a fire pit, barbecue, saxophone and cuckoo clock
- Mark Duda, 56, has been charged with residential burglary after being found
- Authorities said 'numerous items' were taken from a Pomona home on April 18
- Duda was only found on May 21 after it was reported someone was living in a 'well-disguised' treehouse hidden deep into a hillside in the area
- Pomona police used helicopter with a heat sensing system to find the treehouse
A California burglary suspect has finally been captured after he was found living in a 'very well-built' and 'modern' treehouse for months.
Mark Duda, 56, has been charged with residential burglary. He was wanted on 'numerous warrants', according to the Pomona Police Department.
The burglary was first reported on April 18 when 'numerous items' were taken from a home and garage in Ganesha Hills, a suburb of Pomona.
A California burglary suspect has finally been captured after he was found living in a 'very well-built' and 'modern' treehouse for months
Mark Duda, 56, (pictured) has been charged with residential burglary. He was wanted on 'numerous warrants', according to the Pomona Police Department
Pomona police said the victim had recognized the suspect and saw them removing items from their home.
The suspected thief remained at large for nearly a month before patrol officers received a report regarding someone who was living in a treehouse in the area on May 21.
Authorities were told that the treehouse was 'well-disguised' in the hills of the suburb. Many neighbors had no idea it existed, much less that someone was living there.
As it was already 9pm when they received the report, authorities enlisted the Pomona Police Air Unit as well as K9 officers to help locate the treehouse.
Officers found the 'well-built' treehouse, which they said was 'hidden deep into the hillside'. Inside the treehouse were 'many essentials', including a 'fire pit, barbecue, and lighting'
The treehouse had an incredible view of the Ganesha Hills suburb. It was found with the help of a police helicopter's heat sensing system
The helicopter's heat sensing system was then able to locate the house in 'the heavy brush and trees', according to a post on the Pomona Police Department's Facebook page.
Officers found the dwelling, which they said was 'hidden deep into the hillside'.
Inside the treehouse were 'many essentials', including a 'fire pit, barbecue and lighting'.
A saxophone and cuckoo clock were also found inside, according to NBC Los Angeles.
A saxophone and cuckoo clock (both pictured here) were also found inside Duda's treehouse
Authorities said they had to give 'numerous verbal commands' before Duda finally climbed down. He was then arrested 'without incident'.
The treehouse was set to be torn down on Friday.
Duda's case has since been presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, where he was charged with burglary.
He is being held on $70,000 bail and is set to appear in court in June.