A 12-year-old boy in Medford, N.Y., stayed calm under pressure after hearing a break-in while he was home alone — and his quick decisions helped police catch an alleged intruder.
According to a press release from the Suffolk County Police Department, the boy heard glass shatter in the kitchen and someone moving through the house on Tuesday, Dec. 23. He immediately climbed out of his bedroom window.
After realizing an unknown man was inside, the child hid in the backyard and called police at around 12:50 p.m., authorities said. Officers arrived within three minutes and found the suspect inside the home. Police allege the man entered by breaking a window.
The boy was not hurt. Recalling the moment, Tristen Taylor told KCRG-TV, “I said to myself, ‘I have to get out of the house.’”
His grandmother, Timothea Taylor, said the family was proud of how he handled the situation. “We were very proud that he was able to keep his composure and call the police as quickly as he did,” she told the news outlet, describing him as the family’s “little hero.”
Police identified the suspect as 53-year-old Christian Garcia. They said he was charged with third-degree burglary and possession of burglars tools. It was not immediately clear whether he has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
