Homeowners Come Face to Face with Intruders, with Frightening Results

We’ve posted often on what should be a common sense concept: never confront a burglar in your home. But what if you are already at home, and a burglar breaks in? That’s where having a monitored alarm system comes in - it’s your best defense against that potentially fatal face-to-face with a perp in your home.

Real Tales of Confrontation

Three more “burglar confrontation” stories just came to my attention. As you will see, when homeowners have no warning, the results can be frightening. The first report is from Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and actually ends well: nobody was hurt, and police were able to apprehend the suspect. 

It was a harrowing experience for a Sturbridge, Mass. woman. She made a 911 call while hiding in her bedroom after she heard burglars in her house. She called for help after waking up in the middle of the night to a robber inside her house. Sturbridge Police say the suspect chose to rob her home on Stony Brook Drive because there were no exterior lights on.

What Happened

The victim hid in a downstairs bedroom. “She locked the bedroom door…she knew to call 911 and she also tried to conceal herself behind some furniture,” Sgt. Kevin Mercier said. The victim whispered to dispatchers, trying to remain unnoticed by the robber upstairs. She was home alone. She had to keep calling dispatchers back because her phone kept dropping the line. The victim told dispatchers the robber broke in through her patio and was in the house for a few minutes. She says he left through the front door.

What He Stole

Police say the suspect stole a safe, printer and scanner before driving off. Police pursued the vehicle. “Obviously he was taken out of the car at gun point, it was a felony stop. He was handcuffed in the street.” Police say he had a box cutter on him. They say this incident could've been a lot worse. “He's breaking into somebody's house in the middle of the night. It could've been tragic for the home owner. It's an arrest that we feel good about.”

 This Next Story is Scary as Well

The woman above was lucky – these confrontations often end very badly for the homeowner. Imagine your feeling of vulnerability if that happened to you. That’s why police increasingly recommend that when you have a monitored alarm system, you should also arm your system while at home as well as when you’re away. The next story comes from Chesterville, Maine and also ended without harm to the resident - luckily.

Police say they are seeking a man who broke into a Chesterville home, but then fled after he found a teenage girl hiding in a bedroom. Both Kennebec County and Franklin County sheriff’s departments have issued arrest warrants issued for Stephen Dingus, based on a car license plate number provided by the girl and other witness accounts.

Classic Daytime Burglary

Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols said the burglar entered the Vienna Road home around 9:15 a.m. Monday using an unknown tool to open the door. When the burglar entered the bedroom where the girl was hiding, the sight of her scared him from the house, Nichols said. He said the girl assisted police by immediately reporting the burglary and providing police with a description of the burglar and his vehicle.

Fast Police Response

“She had the presence of mind right off the bat to call 911,” he said. Nichols said the teenager lived with her mother in the home, though she was the only one home at the time. “We’re just thankful nothing worse happened,” he said.

Once again police said that it could have ended very badly. More homeowners have learned the value of arming their alarm system even when they are home – day and night. With increases in residential crime occurring all across the US, it just makes sense to take precautions.

The Third Story is the Worst

In this story, the homeowner arrived at the home to encounter the intruder in the act – often considered a worst case scenario. This report comes from San Mateo, California, and it’s truly frightening.

A woman who interrupted a midday burglary at her San Mateo home Monday was tied up and held in her home while the suspect used the woman’s ATM card several times to retrieve cash, police said Wednesday. Sgt. David Norris said the man tied up the 66-year-old woman after she surprised him while he was burglarizing her Edinburgh Street home around noon Monday.

Intruder Was Armed

The suspect was armed with a handgun. The woman, who received non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, was able to break free and call police. Police are asking for the public’s help in producing any information that might lead to the arrest of the suspect. Police have released a photo of the suspect using the victim’s ATM card.

No Alarm Systems

As is usually the case in these situations – and I could cite countless more from daily crime reports – there appeared to be no alarm system in the home of any of these victims. The fact is that only about 20% of US homes do have a monitored alarm system that can trigger a police dispatch. Imagine how much safer you would feel in your home, or when entering your home at any time of day or night, without worrying. And with interactive monitoring services, such as those offered by FrontPoint, in addition to police dispatching you can also receive a text or email any time a door opens, telling you which door. That’s the kind of protection more people are looking for today, as home intrusion statistics continue to get worse across much of the US.

A monitored home alarm system can absolutely help to prevent these confrontations in the first place. And that’s where FrontPoint comes in: we’re the leader in wireless home security, as well as the #1 ranked home alarm company in the US. When you’re ready for a home alarm that’s safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat, you’re ready for FrontPoint: no hidden fees, the best interactive, wireless home alarm technology at the best price, and world-class service. With a burglary occurring every 14 seconds in the US, there are still lots of homes – and homeowners – left for us to protect.