Homeowner holds intruder at knifepoint until police arrive

ATLANTA — Police say they found stolen goods inside an intruder's car after a homeowner held the man at knifepoint until police arrived.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes that they found four purses in the suspect's car and none of them belong to the woman who lives in the house.

“There are people out there looking for opportunities so, the more difficult you make it, then the less likely you are to be a victim,” victim Elizabeth Allen told Fernandes.

Allen wants people to learn from her mistake. She said that on Tuesday at 6 a.m. she left her home on Ridgemore Road to take a jog around the neighborhood.

She forgot to close her garage door, which was a huge mistake.

“I could’ve come home to someone in my house. So yeah, it was really terrifying,” Allen told Fernandes.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Gwinnett County Schools investigating 6 students for 'sexual misconduct'
• WARNING: Woman says scammer cleared out her bank account using Venmo
• Fulton County to sue drug manufacturers in fight against opioid epidemic

She had no idea that Cleophus Ward had just crashed his car near her house, according to police.
Investigators said Ward saw the open garage door open and went in.

Allen’s husband heard the intruder.

“He was in the bathroom and heard our door chime. Our door opened and he heard a man’s voice and he came out of the bathroom and saw the guy,” Allen said.

He was stunned but made a quick decision.

“He was in our bathroom back here and came through our kitchen to grab a knife and get the intruder to get on the ground and stay there until the police came,” Allen said, showing Fernandes how the incident unfolded.

When police came, they found Ward's car with four flat tires and said the car had clearly been in a wreck.

They also found some stolen goods inside the car.

“There were four different purses inside and they had me look to see if any of them were mine,” Allen said. “It makes us realize that even though we feel safe and secure that we can’t take any of that for granted.”

The Allens have a new security system now, equipped with video surveillance.

Cox Media Group