12-year-old girl hides in closet, snaps picture to catch suspected burglar

AUBURN, Mass. -- Police in Auburn are crediting a quick thinking 12-year-old girl with thwarting a man she saw breaking into her home.

Chief Andrew Sluckis Jr. says the girl hid in a closet and called 911 when a man broke in Monday afternoon.

"He kept tugging on the back door and he's trying to get in," the girl told the 911 dispatcher. "He's trying to break in and I'm home alone and I don't know what to do."

After the suspect left, the girl came out of the closet and took a picture of the man as he tried to break into a neighbor's home.

The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Clinton Joyce, of Worcester, was arrested a short time later. A police dog located a pry bar authorities believe was used in the break-ins.

Joyce was charged with attempted breaking and entering and malicious destruction of property.

Sluckis says Joyce is on probation and parole. It's not clear if the suspect has a lawyer.