'I locked myself in a closet': Ten-year-old girl's terrifying police call released
Chilling audio reveals how a clever 10-year-old Melbourne girl hid in a wardrobe and called Triple-0 after a burglar broke into her home.
The quick-thinking youngster is being praised for her bravery after she called police while a man broke in and ransacked her home.
Kate Luong was home in her Springvale home on May 31, while her family had gone to pick up dinner.
They had been out for less than 30 minutes when a man used a brick to smash his way in and ransack the home, about 5.30pm, News Corp reported.
The St Anthony’s Primary school student hid from the intruder by locking herself in a bedroom wardrobe and then called Triple-0.
“They’re in the house. They broke the glass door,” Kate can be heard whispering to the male operator calmly, during the phone call.
“I’m in the house. I’m in the room near the backyard. I locked myself in and I’m inside a closet.”
Asked if she saw the intruder, Kate told the operator she did, and gave a detailed description of the alleged offender.
“A man with black hair, he was wearing gloves, he has like a black jacket on, [aged] around the mid-30s to 40s,” she said.
“Please come quick,” she begged.
The operator reassured the little girl help was on the way and remained on the phone with her until police arrived minutes later, to arrest the armed crook.
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Kate’s 19-year-old brother Mike told News Corp the family came home to find the front door open and all the lights on.
“I saw two policemen running around the court trying to figure out which house,” he said.
“I called them to come over and they got the guy in the living room and walked out.”
He added that Kate learned what to do during the terrifying incident from watching crime dramas on TV show.
Police say they arrived at the home within two minutes and arrested a man armed with a knife and a screwdriver.
A 46-year-old Springvale man was charged with a number of offences including aggravated burglary, criminal damage, going equipped to steal, handle/receive/retention stolen goods, negligently dealing with proceeds of crime and possess controlled weapon.
He was remanded to face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court later on 27 June.
