Last week, the quiet of an Alameda neighborhood was shattered by a burglary attempt that was thwarted thanks to the quick thinking of two local children. The Alameda Police Department (APD) detailed the event in a social media post, recounting how a child was awakened just after 3:00 AM by the unsettling sounds of an intruder trying to enter their home on San Diego Road. The child’s calm and collected response was to find a safe space and dial 911 for help.
In a situation that would send waves of panic through many, the juvenile caller could not provide dispatchers with an exact location, which led to APD operators working diligently to determine the child’s whereabouts as the break-in unfolded. Meanwhile, other household members awoke and confronted the suspect, a stranger. Another child from the same residence soon provided additional details to the operators, painting a clearer picture for the responding officers…