(NECN: Mike Cronin) – It was a harrowing experience for a Sturbridge, Mass. woman. She made a 911 call while hiding in her bedroom after she heard burglars in her house. It all happened early Monday morning. Fortunately, police have made an arrest in the case.
She called for help after waking up in the middle of the night to a robber inside her house. Sturbridge Police say the suspect, Daniel Orneas of Lowell, chose to rob her home on Stony Brook Drive because there were no exterior lights on. The victim hid in a downstairs bedroom.
“She locked the bedroom door…she knew to call 911 and she also tried to conceal herself behind some furniture,” Sgt. Kevin Mercier said.
The victim whispered to dispatchers, trying to remain unnoticed by the robber upstairs. She was home alone. She had to keep calling dispatchers back because her phone kept dropping the line.
The victim told dispatchers the robber broke in through her patio and was in the house for a few minutes. She says he left through the front door.
Police say Orneas stole a safe, printer and scanner before driving off. Police pursued the vehicle.
“Obviously he was taken out of the car at gun point, it was a felony stop. He was handcuffed in the street.”
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Orneas now faces a number of charges including breaking and entering and armed burglary. Police say he had a box cutter on him. They say this incident could've been a lot worse.
“He's breaking into somebody's house in the middle of the night. It could've been tragic for the home owner. It's an arrest that we feel good about and we're glad he's being held.”
