Neighbor stops burglary in process, saves family's Christmas

WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) - A neighbor caught two men trying to break into a neighbor's window in Warren and saved their Christmas in the process.

Nicole Koerber and Calvin Rock left for work Thursday morning only to come back to their home ransacked. Two crooks forced their way into their home and were about to ruin their Christmas.

"Almost didn't have a Christmas. Some people decide to break in to people's houses and steal their stuff," Calvin said.

Instead of taking everything, the two crooks were caught thanks to the family's next door neighbor.

"I'm very excited they got caught. That  made my day right there," Nicole said.

Koerber and Rock say they left their home on Sherman around 6:30 in the morning and noticed a car out front, but continued on their way.

Even though they were gone, the neighbor wasn't and spotted two men climbing into their kitchen window. That neighbor called 911 and police arrived and found the suspected bandits inside.

"We can't be everywhere, having eyes and ears in the neighborhood is so important to law enforcement," Warren Police Chief Bill Dwyer said.

They were gathering weapons, electronics, and the Christmas gifts when police arrived. They ran from police and even climbed onto the roof 

"From the roof of the home, they jumped onto the awning, from the awning to a garage," Dwyer said. 

Another neighbor said the police attacked the two men but Dwyer said the officers acted appropriately. It took four Warren police officers to arrest one of the men who they said appeared to be on drugs. The officers suffered minor injuries in the scuffle.

Police said the two men have an extensive criminal history, and are expected to be charged Friday. They're also planning to re-establish the city's neighborhood watch program and to honor that neighbor for her quick action.

"She's a perfect example of what a neighbor should do, looking out for another neighbor," Dwyer said.