Burgling the Wrong House

A couple of would-be teenage burglars picked the wrong house to rob, breaking into the Mesa home of Santa Barbara Police Sergeant Mike McGrew’s 67-year-old mother, Dawn McGrew on Thursday afternoon. The teens mistakenly thought the house was empty when they entered, only to be confronted by Mrs. McGrew soon thereafter. The twosome explained they were looking for a friend and picked the wrong house by accident, but she wasn’t buying it. When they tried to leave, McGrew grabbed one by the elbow and walked him back into the house until police officers arrived. “She put the C-clamp on him,” laughed Sgt Mike McGrew afterwards, “and he wasn’t going anywhere. I know from experience.”

McGrew also expressed relief that what could have become a volatile situation — residents confronting burglars — did not escalate. The other teen waited outside — hiding his backpack under a neighbor’s bush — where he reportedly paced back and forth. They picked Dawn McGrew’s house, they reportedly explained, because it “looked nice,” rang the doorbell — and when no one answered after 30 seconds — opened the unlocked door and walked in. Police claim the two were tied to other home robberies in which over $700 worth of electronic goods were stolen. They arrested another teen in connection with that as well.