A pile of allegedly stolen goods next to a parked car led Howard County police to a 20-year-old man who was accused of burglarizing an Ellicott City home early yesterday.

About 1: 30 a.m., Pfc. Barry Boone and Officer Guy Williams responded to the 4000 block of Woodley Road in Ellicott City after a resident reported a suspicious car, said Sgt. Morris Carroll, a police spokesman.

As the officers drove up, they saw two or three people running away, Carroll said.

Police said several items allegedly burglarized from a home in the block were near the car. An interrogation of the car's owner in Ellicott City led police to a suspect who was arrested at a convenience store.

Charged with burglary was Matthew Edward Helfrich of Ellicott City, police said.

Pub Date: 8/12/98