Teen thwarts would-be intruder

VOORHEES, N.J. - September 24, 2009 The Lost Tree Development in Voorhees is a leafy, upscale, quiet community, but at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, police say a man tried to break into a home on Acorn Hill Drive.

A 14-year-old boy was at home alone doing homework when the man armed with a kitchen knife tried to get inside.

"Prying the front screen, a dog was barking at the individual, [the boy] grabbed the phone, called 911, ran upstairs and locked himself in the bedroom until officers responded," Detective Sgt. Jerry Bonsall of the Voorhees Police Department said.

Police say the would-be intruder is a 5'11 black male about 30 to 35 years olds wearing a black leather jacket and shoulder length blond hair which is believed to be a wig.

"There were footprints and other things in the area that led us to believe that someone had been at the front of the residence," Bonsall said.

Maria Smith who has lived in the neighborhood for 28 years is very surprised.

"It's a very quiet neighborhood. Everyone seems to be very friendly, neighbors are all sociable, so never really had any problems," Smith said.

Sgt. Bonsall says the teen took correct action in calling 911 while locking himself in his bedroom. He suggests parents talk to their children about such a plan.

"I would recommend they do tell the children call 911, have the police respond before calling the parents to avoid any delay," Bonsall said.

The ordeal was frightening for the 14-year-old and his family, but police say the young man did exactly the right thing when he saw trouble coming.

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