LAKESIDE PARK, Ky. — One Northern Kentucky neighborhood was on alert Thursday after one home was nearly burglarized — nearly, thanks to the homeowner’s security system, and his quick thinking.
Greg Vonderhaar said he received a text message alert from his security system just after midnight Wednesday morning, telling him someone had walked onto his porch.
Upon checking the security video feed: “Immediately I realized that this is somebody I don’t know,” he told WCPO.
That’s when Vonderhaar turned out the lights and watched as the intruder, still on the porch, began going through his family’s belongings.
It didn’t take long for the intruder to make for the door and try to enter the home.
“What was shocking to me is when he started to head towards the house,” Vonderhaar said. “I realized that he is goin gto try to open the door.
“If he opens that door, I am going to have to do something,” he realized.
The video shows the intruder trying to open the locked door into the house, at which point Vonderhaar is heard banging on the door from the inside, in an attempt to scare the man away.
Fortunately, it worked. Unfortunately, the suspect was able to flee the scene by car, Vonderhaar said.
It was a situation that Vonderhaar said could have had a far worse result, but not without also saying some damage had already been done.
“You feel violated,” he siad. “There is no reason for somebody to be on your property to try to enter your home.”
As for the neighborhood, they do not intend to make it easy for the intruder — or any other would-be criminal — to return to the area.
Vonderhaar suggested increasing the lighting of the city’s streets and neighbors being more vigilant about keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior.
In the meantime, Lakeside police are still investigating. They were able to obtain fingerprints from the scene of the back porch.
