Girls Hide While Burglar Ransacks Montclair Home
MONTCLAIR (CBSLA.com) – A teen and her niece were able to safely conceal themselves when a burglar broke in and looted a Montclair home Tuesday afternoon.
According to Montclair police, at 3:30 p.m., 14-year-old Savannah Jones was babysitting her 4-year-old niece at a home in the 10200 block of Monte Vista Avenue when she heard a knock at the door. Through the peephole, the girl saw a man standing on the porch and became suspicious.
"While I was standing here I saw the doorknob move," Jones said.
Jones told CBS2 Wednesday that she hid herself and her niece in the master bathroom while she texted her mother for help.
"I had (my niece) hiding behind the toilet and I locked myself in there," Jones said.
While she was texting her mother, the suspect kicked in the front door of the home and began going through the house stealing belongings, police said. At one point, the suspect entered the master bedroom while the girls were hiding in the adjoining bathroom.
"I kept staring at the door and hoping he wouldn't try to open it," Jones said.
After ransacking the home, the suspect left without discovering either girl. Officers responded and searched the neighborhood, but were unable to locate the man.
Savannah is working with her family to process what happened. She is experiencing a range of emotions.
"Relief, and then knowing that he's still out there, I don't know, scary," Jones said.
The suspect was described as black, bald, wearing a dark colored sweatshirt and jeans. Anyone with information on the suspect should call police at 909-621-4771.