Two overnight break-and-enter incidents in Windsor took place while lone female residents were home at the time, say police.
In the first incident, a man allegedly tried to smash a patio door using a barbecue as a battering ram, alarming the occupant — a 54-year-old woman.
Police responded around 11 p.m. Tuesday to a call from an apartment building in the 1600 block of Ouellette Avenue.
The victim told police that she’d heard a commotion on the patio of her ground floor unit. When she saw what the man was doing, she opened the patio door and told him to stop.
The suspect entered the patio door and struggled with the woman, who tried to force him back outside.
After managing to push the man out, the woman locked the door and contacted police.
The man then went to the front of the building, looking for another way to get inside.
Officers noticed the man when they arrived on the scene. Seeing police, the suspect turned and began to walk away.
The officers arrested him.
Billy Bergeron, 37, remains in custody. He has been charged with breaking-and-entering and assault.
Police said the woman complained of a sore wrist, but refused medical treatment.
The second incident happened a few hours later, around 2:25 a.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of Janette Avenue.
In that case, the female occupant only had time to call police and tell them someone had just entered her residence via the back door.
The resident then fled her home.
Officers arrived within minutes to find the woman outside, still talking to 911 dispatchers on her cellphone.
Police noticed a teenage male leaving the rear of the residence, heading for a dark alley.
The suspect was approached and arrested.
Police said the suspect at first gave the officers a false name, then tried to run as they put him into the prisoner transport.
The youth didn’t get far before he was caught and taken to headquarters, where his true identity was confirmed.
The 17-year-old young offender faces charges of breaking-and-entering, resisting arrest, and two counts of breach of probation.
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