HORN LAKE, MS -- Horn Lake police have three teens under arrest who they say are responsible for several home burglaries. The trio was caught after they tried to beat down the door of a house while the homeowner was inside.
"Someone had knocked on her door," says Lt. Scott Evans. "She looked out and didn't recognize the guy so she didn't go to door."
That's when Evans says one of the teenagers tried to kick in the home's back door.
"She heard this loud bang and realized her door was being kicked open," Evans tells abc24.com. "She went out in her drive and flagged someone down who was able to call us."
The whole thing took less than ten minutes last Friday afternoon. Police arrested 19-year-olds Terrance Cryer and Nathan Jackson along with 18-year-old Rodriques Randle.
The three were out in the middle of the day, a time most people feel safe, but police say the woman did the right thing by not answering her door.
"In my book if you don't know someone you shouldn't go to the door," says Evans. "If you feel uneasy you should always call us."
"I actually wouldn't have opened the door either if they didn't look like someone I knew," agrees neighbor Darnell Johnson. "I probably would have called 911 or took other means of action."
Johnson hasn't heard of any other trouble in his Arbor Lakes subdivision, but police think the teens have been breaking into homes all over town.
"Hopefully this will slow down the burglaries we've been having," says Evans.
"Some people leave their doors unlocked, and it's unsafe," adds Johnson. "Especially coming around here on the holidays. It's very unsafe."
"We can't get it out enough," agrees Evans. "Just be aware of your surroundings. Just like this lady, she looked out before she answered the door and that's a good step to do."
The teens were driving a silver Chevy Impala. The vehicle matches a car involved in at least four other burglaries Horn Lake police are investigating. There have been a half dozen over the last month.
