Police: 12-year-old girl thwarts suspected burglar

Posted Tuesday, September 1, 2015 8:54 am

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AUBURN (AP) >> Police in Auburn are crediting a quick thinking 12-year-old girl with thwarting a man she saw breaking into her home.

Chief Andrew Sluckis Jr. says the girl hid in a closet and called 911 when a man broke in Monday afternoon.

After the suspect left, the girl came out of the closet and took a picture of the man as he tried to break into a neighbor's home.

The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Clinton Joyce, of Worcester, was arrested a short time later. A police dog located a pry bar authorities believe was used in the break-ins.

Joyce was charged with attempted breaking and entering and malicious destruction of property.

Sluckis says Joyce is on probation and parole. It's not clear if the suspect has a lawyer.