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A Port Arthur man allegedly obsessed with a woman left her presents on her front porch and cut the wire to her security camera before being caught by police hiding in shrubbery recently.

A woman called Police Arthur Police Department on Aug. 8 and Aug. 13 about a prowler on her property but when officers arrived no one was located, according to information from police.

The victim, a 39-year-old single mother, spoke to a detective and expressed her fear for both her and her children’s welfare. The detective installed a security camera at the residence on Aug. 13th. He also initiated a covert operation in an attempt to catch the prowler.

On Aug. 14, the suspect was reportedly caught on camera peering in the bathroom and bedroom windows. The victim identified her stalker as Nestor Daniel Castro Cruz, a co-worker obsessed with her, police said.

Officers moved the security camera after the victim reported hearing knocking at her front door, shortly after the camera went offline.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 15, the victim called the detective and said the suspect was on her front porch. Moments later he was seen at her bedroom window, according to police.

Officers who were staged in the area immediately responded to the address and located the suspect inside the victim’s fenced in yard, hiding in shrubbery. He was arrested without incident. Cruz had left a birthday cake and money on the front porch for the victim.

Cruz reportedly admitted to being obsessed with the victim and he had cut the wire to the security camera. He was transported to Jefferson County Correctional Facility and booked in for Stalking, a 3rd Felony, and Criminal Mischief, a Class B Misdemeanor.

PAPD lauded the detectives for their dedication and initiative on the social media post.

This was not the first occasion where Det. Tomas Barboza installed a security camera in an effort to catch a suspect in the act.

Cruz remains in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on a charge of stalking with bond set at $10,000 and a charge of criminal mischief with bond set at $2,000.