Hemet woman fights back against knife-wielding burglar – suspect arrested
HEMET – A sleeping Hemet resident who awoke to the sight of a knife-wielding burglar entering her bedroom as she slept refused to become a victim and fought back, according to Hemet Police Sergeant Glen Brock. The burglary occurred Friday, April 29.
Although the young man entering into her bedroom was armed with a knife and approaching the victim in a threatening manner, the homeowner armed herself with a nearby flashlight and chased the fleeing suspect from her home.
The alleged suspect, who was later identified as a 17-year-old Hemet resident, reportedly fled from the residence with the woman chasing right behind him. He has not been identified due to his age.
After receiving a 911 call about the residential burglary about 10 p.m., officers from the Hemet Police Department rushed to the residence, located in the 2400 block of Rose Avenue, in Hemet. Other officers saturated the area while looking for the suspect. The juvenile was eventually located and apprehended by officers a short distance from the victim’s home.
The unidentified victim told responding officers she was asleep inside her bedroom when the burglary occurred. The woman said she first woke up when the suspect turned lights on inside her residence. Before she could act, the victim realized the suspect – who was armed with a knife – was already entering into her bedroom.
Hemet Police officers located and collected the suspects shoes and other items he allegedly left behind while fleeing from the victims residence. William Hayes / Epicenter News photo
The homeowner immediately grabbed a flashlight she kept next to her bed and she began screaming for help. She then reportedly chased the suspect from her bedroom and out the front door of her residence.
The juvenile ran from the flashlight-swinging woman so fast, he allegedly ran right out of his shoes, leaving them behind at the scene. Officers later located and collected the shoes and other dropped items as evidence.
Once the young offender was in custody, he was positively identified by the homeowner as the person she had seen enter her bedroom as she slept. Officers recovered evidence related to the crime from the suspect’s possession, according to Brock.
Officers arrested the juvenile and he was later booked into the Riverside County Juvenile Hall. He is being held without bail and could be tried as an adult.
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