An eight-year-old girl's terrified screams brought an alleged burglar's getaway to a crashing halt after neighbours rushed to her family's rescue and caught the suspect moments after he allegedly broke into their Old Harbour home early Wednesday morning.

The 40-year-old bus conductor, whose identity is being withheld pending further investigations, is now in police custody on suspicion of burglary and larceny.

Reports are that about 5 a.m. on July 1, the complainant was at her home on Bullet Lane in Old Harbour, St Catherine, when she was awakened by screams for help from her eight-year-old daughter.