Erika Solorzano/The Jersey Journal

A registered sex offender who lives on Beach Street in Jersey City broke into the home of a neighbor last week and stole several pairs of underwear and gym shorts from the room of a 14-year-old girl, authorities said today.

Thomas Gaughran, 40, who is charged with burglary and theft, appeared at Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City today via video link from the Hudson County jail in Kearny.

No one was home when Gaughran entered the home on Friday, July 19 through the girl's bedroom window, authorities said.

Besides stealing the teen's underwear and gym shorts, Gaughran also swiped 10 US savings bonds, each with a face value of $50.00, and removed approximately 30 collectable coins valued at $500 from a metal container that was under the girl's bed, the complaint states.

Judge Margaret Marley set the defendant's bail at $50,000 and ordered him not to have any contact with the girl or her family. according to a criminal complaint.

Gaughran is registered as a "Level 2" or "moderate" sex offender on the state's Registered Sex Offender website. "Level 1" is the lowest risk, "Level 3" the highest.

According to the website, Gaughran's past offense was swimming up to the victim in a pool and touching the person in a sexual manner.