Authorities said Tuesday that a 9-year-old girl in Southern California stayed very calm during a home invasion robbery. She called 911 and got police to the scene in time to catch the thief.
Police say the scary event happened just before 6 a.m. Friday when someone broke into the family’s home in Westminster, which is about 35 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
The girl was upstairs and was able to stay calm long enough to call 911 for help.
Someone was breaking into her house, she told Kristen Kannard, who was in charge of dispatch. “Someone opened the window.”
The girl said the thief screamed as he broke into the house near Magnolia Street and Bolsa Avenue.
She said, “They broke the window already.” “I heard ‘Open up!’ from downstairs. Come on! “Open the door!” Also, I heard him hit the door.
Police say the intruder had to leave after being attacked with pepper spray by the girl’s father.
The call to 911 got police to the neighbourhood in three minutes, which was enough time to block off the area and capture 34-year-old Jorge Mendoza Diaz.
He was arrested on charges of breaking and entering and burglary.
“The WPD applauds the brave actions of the nine-year-old victim, who called 911, remained calm, and provided vital information to dispatchers, significantly contributing to the suspect’s timely apprehension,” the police said in a statement. “The calm nature of the nine-year-old victim can clearly be heard in the 911 call.”
Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi said the girl has a future in law enforcement if she wants it.
Lenyi said, “I am very glad that both the nine-year-old and her father did things that maybe kept things from getting much worse.” “Based on her performance, I invite the nine-year-old, when she grows up, to become a member of the WPD as either a police officer or dispatcher.”