Teenager safe after surprising burglars
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

A teenage girl did all the right things to protect herself after suspecting someone might have recently broken into her home in the 3500 block of CR 159.

The girl called in the burglary to the 9- 1-1 emergency system at 4:10 p.m. Friday from a neighbor's house. Wharton County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Bill Copeland, Lt. Danny Marek, Sgt. Lionel Garcia along with deputies George Guttenberger and Andrew Van Vickle all responded to the scene along with Precinct 2 Deputy Constable Daryl Maretka.

"When we get a call about someone, particularly a girl, who might have confronted someone in their home, we always respond in force," Marek said.

The 13-year-old girl told investigators she arrived home from school, went through the living room and as she was heading down a hall saw movement in a bathroom.

"She left the house and went across the street and called 9-1-1," Marek said. "While she was waiting for someone to arrive, she saw a black male, age 30 to 40, dressed in black running north from the house through a pasture."

Marek praised the girl's response to the situation.

"She did all the right things. When she saw something, she didn't go further into the house. She used 9-1-1 and the dispatcher complimented her on her composed answers," he said.

"In a case like this one, there is a temptation to try and apprehend the intruder, and that's just what you shouldn't do."

Entry to the home was gained by knocking out a window using the handle of a mop that was stored on the outside of the home. While some drawers had been tampered with, the girl reported nothing was missing, Marek said.