NEW YORK, April 6 (UPI) -- A 44-year-old man has been arrested in Bay Shore, N.Y., for allegedly booby-trapping his apartment door, police say.
Suffolk County police said Eric Stetz was arrested after his apartment superintendent discovered he had allegedly rigged his apartment door with an elastic cord, a crutch and a large knife, New York Newsday reported Sunday.
Police said the superintendent had informed Stetz about last Thursday's visit, but found the ready-to-stab device when he arrived at the apartment.
A similar booby trap was found attached to the apartment's bedroom door as well, police alleged. Police said no charges will be filed in relation to the second trap.
Stetz's mother, Freda, told Newsday her son had been becoming increasingly paranoid regarding squatters inside the apartment building and had created the booby traps to protect his home.
"It made him paranoid," she told the newspaper. "He was afraid they would break in."
