Alert Neighbor, Mail Carrier Stop Would-Be Burglars

A watchful neighbor and alert mail carrier kept the incident from turning out worse than it could have.

At about 11:20 a.m. July 1, the unidentified mail carrier saw three men in a porch of a home on the 300 block of 11th Avenue North. She knew the homeowners were out of town and thought it was odd that people were there, although she allowed that they could be dropping off flyers. Still, the carrier kept an eye on them while continuing her route.

Meanwhile, a neighbor across the street had also noticed the men and continued to watch them.

Eventually, the three suspicious men left the home in a tan SUV and the carrier called police. The men, it turned out, had been trying to break into the home in broad daylight—and may well have succeeded had they not been spooked by the attention from the mail carrier and neighbor.

“It’s good that they kept their eyes open and called us,” said Police Sgt. Michael Glassberg. 

The three men have not been caught, and the case remains under investigation. But Glassberg said the incident is a good example of how residents should respond when they see something happening.

Neighbors should stay alert for suspicious behavior, he said. Anyone who sees something should call 911—and should not confront the suspect.

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