13-year-old Chloe Symington from Detroit, Michigan, was home alone when two burglars began ransacking her home, but she remembered what her father always said: “Think now, react or panic later.”
Her father’s advice saved Chloe Symington from harm after two men broke into her home when she was off school feeling ill.
Aware the burglars did not know she was in the house, the girl grabbed her cat and hid in her room before immediately calling police.
The chilling 911 call, which Chloe Symington made in whispers from under her bed, alerted police to the area, where they arrested the two 19-year-olds.
Daniel Laflin and Michael Zdanukiewicz, who allegedly stole electronics and a handgun, were arraigned on home invasion charges, according to WXYZ.com.
On discovering their identities, Chloe Symington realized she knew one of the men – and that he had previously been invited to the family home.
Following the break-in, Chloe Symington had ran to her room when she saw intruders rifling through downstairs drawers, and immediately called 911.
Through the 18-minute call, the girl described the thieves’ whereabouts – but fell deadly silent when one came into her room minutes later.
Chloe Symington had not been able to fully hide by the time the intruder came into the room, and was only half under her bed.
But miraculously, intruder did not see her.
“I was just curled up in a ball,” said Chloe Symington told WXYZ.
“I was really freaked out.”
The 911 operator asks in disbelief: “How did they not see you?”
“I don’t know,” the girl said, before the operator added: “Just lay quiet.”
Officers from Macomb County Sheriff Department were unable to get to the home before Daniel Laflin and Michael Zdanukiewicz escaped. But with the girl’s description they were soon caught.
Chloe Symington put her quick thinking down to advice from her father: “Think now, react or panic later.”
“I was just thinking, alright, I should just think of <<what ifs>>. If they come here and they see me what am I going to do?” Chloe Symington told WXYZ.
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