WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. - Investigators said a man tried to case several homes by asking to be let in to use the bathroom.  He's in jail facing multiple burglary charges.

West Frankfort Police arrested 26-year-old Chekoda Frick of Franklin County, Wednesday night. Police said in addition to asking to use the bathroom, he tried to pry his way into one.

His suspicious actions caught the eye of a neighbor who helped police nab him.

"Ma'am, may I use your bathroom, I have to go really bad," said Tina Brown.

Brown said that's how Chekoda Frick acted outside her door Wednesday night. She let him in but then told him to leave.

"He sat down in my chair, and said if I had my cigarettes I'd talk to you," said Brown.

Meanwhile Debbie Webster was sitting in her swing. She said she saw Frick come down the street and try to pop out a window on her neighbor's home.

"I don't know what I thought I was going to do, but I was going to do something," said Webster.

Webster took off down her driveway and confronted Frick in the middle of the yard.

"I said is there a problem, and he turned around and looked at me," said Webster.

Frick started walking down the street. She did too and called police.

"The people that live here are the best defense against crime," said Jeff Tharp, West Frankfort Police Chief.

Tharp said Frick admitted he was on the hunt for prescription pills. He told investigators asking to use the bathroom was his plan, targeting eight homes just last night.

"We have named her captain of the neighborhood patrol," said Sylvia Tharp.

Sylvia Tharp said she's thankful for her neighbor Debbie, who helped to stop what could have been a dangerous encounter.

"He could've been in there, and we wouldn't even know it," said Tharp.

Debbie Webster said she wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

"You feel like something's wrong, most of the time it is, and you need to act on it," said Webster.

Nobody was hurt in all the commotion Wednesday night.

Frick is in custody at the Franklin County Detention Center.