A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house. 12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.A stranger was walking from room to room.”I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said. It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.”I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.”He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.”We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.””You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said. The suspect now faces burglary charges.He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.
A family on Long Island, New York, is crediting their 12-year-old with saving the day.
They say he did all the right things when someone broke into their house.
12-year-old Tristen Taylor of Medford was home alone in his bedroom midday Tuesday when he heard the kitchen window break and footsteps inside the house.
A stranger was walking from room to room.
“I said, I have to get out the house,” Tristen said.
It may sound like the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but unlike the holiday movie, there were no traps or pranks — just quick thinking, a fast police response and a child who did all the right things.
After getting away through a ground-floor window, he called 911. As the man rummaged through the house, Tristen hid behind the garage.
“I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here,” he said.
Suffolk County police arrived in less than three minutes, catching the thief red-handed.
“He is our little hero,” said Timothea Taylor, Tristen’s grandmother.
“We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did. Basically, without even thinking about it, he automatically called 911.”
Tristen’s family credits movies he’s seen, plus his good instincts.
To his neighbors, he’s also a hero for stopping a brazen burglar.
Mike Campanella, a neighbor, said, “I would hope my son would have done the same thing, when someone is breaking into the house — caution is to get out and then call the police.”
“You just have to be brave and call them,” Tristen said.
The suspect now faces burglary charges.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday.