This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/31/2015 12:00 AMWhat began as an everyday errand could have ended differently for Manola Schiavo and her family last week; if not for the quick thinking of an alert neighbor.
Schiavo’s 15 year-old son was home alone when the family’s house on Patrick Lane was entered by an intruder shortly after noon on Aug. 25.
“It was 12:15 in the afternoon and I ran out to the store for 10 minutes and left my 15 year-old, which you would think is fine, but this shows we really need to be constantly on alert,” Schiavo told Zip06.
The home’s empty driveway quickly drew a suspicious vehicle to the house, but luckily for the Schiavos, a neighbor happened to be watching and felt something wasn’t right.
“He saw a car backing into our driveway, and he recognized that nobody ever backs into our driveway, so he called my husband,” said Schiavo.
A man exited the vehicle, tapped on the front door, then went around back and entered the house through an unlocked sliding door. Schiavo’s son was in the family room.
“The man was actually making his way upstairs; he was in the hallway going upstairs as my son was coming through the family room and heard a noise. My husband called my son and the man must have heard the phone ringing, so he fled. If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know what might have happened,” said Schiavo.
The neighbor, who requested news coverage anonymity, also called Branford police to report the suspicious activity; as did Schiavo, who had raced back home after her husband called her. Information provided by the neighbor, including a detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle, helped police to make a quick arrest.
According to a press release from Branford Police, “...an alert neighbor contacted police after he observed a suspicious vehicle back into a driveway on Patrick Lane. The neighbor reported seeing someone other than the homeowner go to the rear of the home and then return to the vehicle and leave quickly...approximately one hour later, Branford Police Officer Joseph Harrington, who was working a private duty traffic assignment on Mill Plain Road, noticed the suspect and the vehicle as it passed by the construction zone. Officer Harrington and Branford Police Sergeant Gregory Watrous were able to stop and detain the vehicle and the operator a short time later.”
Police arrested Andrew Kaik, 31, of 229 Branford Road, Apt. 437, North Branford. He was charged with second-degree burglary; risk of injury to a minor, home invasion and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kaik was held on a $50,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in New Haven Court Aug. 26.
“A neighbor really makes a difference,” said Schiavo. “Because of him watching out, he not only helped us and our son but he also stopped a burglar. That man was in our house, that’s why he was charged with burglary and risk of injury to a minor.”
Schiavo, who is also a teacher at Tisko Elementary School, said the episode has taught her family an important life lesson she hopes to share with as many people as possible, which is, “..look out for each other,” she said.
“More people need to do that. Instead of people thinking, ‘I don’t want to get involved,’ we need more getting involved,” said Schiavo. “We had a neighbor who was looking out for us, and it’s a good thing that he did.”