Victim Who Came Face To Face With Intruder In Delaware Speaks Out
by Elizabeth Hur
CLAYMONT, Del., (CBS) - Caught in the act—police say a man is behind a burglary spree, breaking into homes in the middle of the day.
Tuesday night, one of the victims who came face to face with the intruder spoke only to Eyewitness News.
The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, says he had just returned home when a stranger came running out of the family room.
"I think we surprised each other. I turned around and he was walking out and he went right out my door."
It happened Saturday afternoon, according to police in New Castle County, Delaware. Several homes, police say, in Long View Farms and Highland Woods communities just off Naamans Road were burglarized. No one was home in all but this one case. The victim says he first made sure his wife was not home then ran after the intruder.
"I actually came out here and he was pulling away and I told him to stop and he actually stopped. He said that he worked for Comcast. He told me that my wife called him to come here, but we don't even have Comcast, we have Verizon. I asked him for his credentials and he started fumbling around and he couldn't come up with it so he put it in Drive and took off."
Neighbors say they are nervous knowing the burglar is still out there.
Pat Houtman said, "It's scary, just so brazen. This was during the day!"
Bill Houtman added, "Scary, nobody's ever been attacked here but we could be next you know."
The victim said, "Everybody's grateful that nobody got hurt and nothing got stolen but it doesn't make it right."
With the victim's help, police constructed a composite sketch of the suspect. The suspect was described as a white male, 30 to 40 years of age, approximately 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, with long reddish brown hair with a goatee, who was wearing tan cargo pants and a light colored shirt.
Police say the suspect was last seen fleeing in an older model light blue colored Dodge Intrepid bearing an unknown Pennsylvania registration. The vehicle was described as having a spare tire on the front passenger side and white on the rear and front bumpers.
Police are asking that if there are any other individuals who have been victimized under similar circumstances or have any information regarding this crime, please call the New Castle County Police Department at 302-395-2783 (ATTN: Detective P. Sorrels). You can also send him an email at psorrels@nccde.org or you can submit crime tips anonymously by going to www.NCCPD.com and following the link for Tips and Alerts. You will be asked for a subject line, the location the tip applies to, and your tip information. You may also attach a photograph. Citizens may also provide text tips by texting the key word NCCPD followed by your tip to 847411 (TIP411). Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
Police also tell Eyewitness News, Delaware Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $1,000 to persons providing anonymous information that leads to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.
