An Essex man is behind bars after allegedly stealing a sock full of change, police said.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, police say, a man used a ladder to climb into a home in the 7500 block of Hillsway Avenue through a side window. The resident, an acquaintance of the suspect, saw him as he allegedly emerged from the basement holding the sock, which contained $166.90 in change, according to a police incident summary.

The alleged burglar was arrested at the scene.

Brandon Lee Keller, 26, of the 1600 block of Howard Ave., is charged with first-degree burglary, theft, destruction of property and making a false statement to an officer.

He is currently being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center on $20,000 bond, according to online court records.