Man attempts to force his way inside Ann Arbor home
A man pushed up against a woman in an attempt to force his way inside her home Saturday night, Ann Arbor police said.
About 2:30 a.m., the 26-year-old woman returned to her home in the 400 block of Pauline Boulevard and saw a man on the front porch, police said.
Police said she went to the back door, where she saw a light bulb to an outdoor light was on the ground. As she began to unlock the door, she saw the man several feet away, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.
When the woman asked the man whether she could help him, he told her that she could open the door, police said. He then pushed his shoulder against hers, police said, attempting to force her inside the apartment.
She pushed him and he ran away, heading south, Bush said. Police are investigating the incident as an attempted home invasion.
The man was described as white, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, about 25 years old and weighing about 225 pounds. He was clean-shaven and was wearing blue jeans, a light blue sweatshirt with a zipper and light blue baseball cap.
Anyone with information can call the police department's tip line at (734) 794-6939.
Comments
Engineer
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:24 p.m.
This sounds like an excellent example of where the old saying God created all men and Samual Colt made them equal. Starring down the barrel of a 1911 might have given this thug second thoughts and she could have had him lie down untill the Ann Arbor police showed up. Remember a gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
Jack
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
Was she walking? Her actions make a lot more sense if she was walking. Where does one go at 3 a.m. on foot for help? I hope she carries a cell phone and next time (hopefully there will not be one) calls 911. It's always difficult to say what one would do in such a case.
pbehjatnia
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 8:42 p.m.
I just don't know why everyone is so upset about this? Mayor Hieftje and Chief Barnett have been 100% clear and thus reassuring in informing us that (violent) crime is actually down in Ann Arbor and that (sexual) assaults on women do not occur in Ann Arbor. Therefore I, esp. as a woman, feel comfortable walking alone at any time day or night in Ann Arbor. I know that the fist to my head on a Sunday evening walk, the arms restraining me from behind while I walk along late afternoon and the tearing of my clothing in the wee hours are all just figments of my imagination - just as they have been for every woman who has been assaulted in this imaginary rise on crime against women in Ann Arbor. I swear, the wild eyed stories Ann Arborites are coming up with nowadays must have something to do with climate change.
bruceae
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
Once again the warm and fuzzy people at the news are busy deleting all of the comments from people who know exactly how to handle a burgler at 3:00 a.m. And isn't bake him cookies and give him your teddy bear
Fatkitty
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
Well, I don't feel so alone, considering the majority of posts have been zapped.
RJA
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
An adult has every right to return home anytime in the night or morning. If I see a man or subject on my front porch, I would walk, run, or drive past my home. (call 911 in the process) Like djm said his intentions would not be good. I am happy that this lady was able to get away. Shoulder to shoulder, with pepper spray on my key chain I would have given him a blast of it. I have a new can of wasp spray by my front door, where I let the dog out between 1-3 a.m. I turn the front porch light on first, then open the steel door, look out the storm door before I let him out. Lock the storm, then stand there and watch. I just thought of something else, going to put a can of wasp spray in my cup holder in my car. We women have to do everything we can to protect ourselves these days. Hope this perp is caught soon.
nvragain
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
In suggesting ways in which you can prevent or suppress a perp, one, his name being Tony Dearing, might think you are blaming the victim, yet for your clever disclaimer that everyone has the right to return home safely, I think your response is totally accurate.
nvragain
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
The other day I returned to my house at 3am and saw a stranger on my porch, at which point I decided to ask them if I could help them with something, surely they must have needed something to be at my door at 3am.
djm12652
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
my first instinct would be to call 911...99.99% of the time a stranger at your front door at 2:30 am will not have good intentions.
nvragain
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
'About 2:30 a.m., the 26-year-old woman returned to her home in the 400 block of Pauline Boulevard and saw a man on the front porch, police said. Police said she went to the back door, where she saw a light bulb to an outdoor light was on the ground. As she began to unlock the door, she saw the man several feet away, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.' I want to make sure that I am reading this correctly before I make comment? A person returns home at 2:30am, sees someone, a stranger on their front porch, and approaches the back door instead of the front where the stranger is. At which point, I must conclude as the story makes it sound like he just appeared out back, the stranger followed her to the back door. She then asked if she could help him with something? He then attacks trying to force his way inside the home, but fails and takes off running. Now don't blame the victim or suggest any common sense safety measures that could have helped prevent this attempted home invasion, that will violate commenting guidelines.