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Resident scares off home intruder
Published Saturday, January 19, 2008
NATCHEZ — At approximately 4 a.m. on Friday, a Natchez woman scared off an intruder already in her family’s home.
Melanie Downer, who lives on Pearl Street, said she was somewhat asleep when she heard the keypad for the home’s alarm system beeping.
Downer said the keypad indicated the back door was open.
Downer also said she was not originally concerned because the wind had blown the door open in the past.
However, as a precaution Downer took the phone with her when she went downstairs.
And when she got downstairs she was quite surprised by what she found.
Downer said a man was standing in her husband’s home office.
“I yelled at him to get out of my house,” she said. “I was just shocked.”
Downer said by the time she looked down at the phone to dial 911 and looked back up, the intruder was gone.
Police Chief Mike Mullins said while he has no evidence linking Friday’s intrusion to other break-ins in the downtown area, he believes they are probably the same person.
Mullins said the intruder gained entry to the Downer’s home by cutting the caulking surrounding a pane of glass and removing the glass.
“He was then able to reach inside and jimmy the lock,” he said.
While Downer was never able to see anything but the back of the intruder she still was able to provide police with a physical description.
“He never turned around or said anything,” she said.
Downer said the man was wearing jeans and a dark leather blazer. She also said he had tightly cropped hair and was wearing something like a ski cap.
Downer said the intruder was well built and judging by his build she believes him to be in is 20s or 30s.
Mullins said due to poor lighting conditions in the house, Downer was not able to speculate as to the man’s skin color.
Mullins also said Downer said she did not hear a car leaving.
The only item reported stolen from the home was a black purse with white stitching. Mullins said it contained only loose change.
“We want anyone with information to call us,” he said.
Mullins said if anyone knows a family member or acquaintance fitting the description of the Pearl Street intruder, they should immediately contact the police station and ask for an investigator or call Crime Stoppers.
“(Crime Stoppers) has cash on hand for tips leading to an arrest,” he said.
The Natchez Police Station can be reached at 601-445-5565.
Crime Stoppers can be reached by dialing 601-442-5000.
Downer said she and her husband would be taking more precautions now. They are planning to buy a gun and will be adding deadbolts to their doors.
“We are not going to let some jerk change the way our family lives,” she said.
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 1:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get a gun!! It will give you one more level of security plus spending the money to purchase it will generate more money into our recessive economy.
Posted by thetinman (Keith Reynolds) on January 19, 2008 at 2:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WAY TO GO GIRL!!! Get a Gun and GIT ER' DUN next time. Lets remember the lesson from a few weeks ago also!!!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank goodness he didnt harm her...I agree,get a gun & drop the intruder in his tracks.What happened to the crimestoppers money? I would be willing to bet it went into the general fund to pay for the aldermens pay raise.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW, the shear boldness of these criminals! Also, it seems the alarm was not on, that would have really awakened everyone as well as neighbors maybe even, as soon as he popped that door open. I know with our alarm system, you will only hear those little beeps, when it is off, and someone opens the door or a window. I could only hope that someone that bold would walk right into the end of a double barrel.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good going! That is awesome!
Posted by justice (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Melanie was lucky . This home invasion could have gone horribly wrong . Thank God that you were able to talk about it . Get a gun ! You have every right to blast away after the warning you gave this thug/drug head . Stories like this just make me sick ! A happy ending would have been this bum lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood . Nothing but a druggie or criminal would break into someone's home anyway . If you can't feel say in your own home where then ? Melanie , please get a gun !
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im sure someone has looked outside by now...
My Kids are out in pj's playing in the first Snow they have ever seen in Natchez!
Posted by doubled (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
happy snow day !
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Happy Winter Wonderland!
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard it was snowing...my wife sent me pics. She is over there visiting now. Funny...she thought she was getting away from it.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this is the first time I can remember a snow this good since I was their age. Snow ice cream anyone?
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
she's here? did you make fun of this last night? lol
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yes! Good Morning! this is neat.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i did...I am glad you guys are enjoying the snow. Stay off the roads though...most people think they know how to drive in it...but dont.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's not sticking to the streets. the yards, cars, shrubs and everything else are getting covered. rooftops are totally covered.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's slacking though. it prob won't go much longer. i wish it would snow all day.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
those are the best days....sitting at home and watching the snow accumulate in the yard....drinking coffee....and just relaxing.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it say's partly sunny @ 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. of all things, the only channel that's out right now is The Weather Channel. lol.
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
((notfromnatchez)) I guess hell is freezing over, huh!?!!?!? *lol*
So, Natchez is getting a good amount of snow!!!!! Wonderful!!!!!!
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
just enough to get us all worked up and then it'll stop.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My poor girls, they are out trying to build a snowman.. and it stops... Please, I wish it would not stop! Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow... My girls will never get another chance like this!!!!!
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well they have 3 decent size (dirty looking) balls, lets see if they can get them piled on top of each other... Hee hee hee its fun watching them try to build it... even if it is rather muddy looking... LOL this is great!
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i wish for their sake it would last longer. well, for all our sakes.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The snow is great...but if you see enough of it...you will get tired of it. Shoveling snow is fun...for about 5 minutes.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's still going very lightly.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
a gun for the snow? most people buy snow tires or a snow shovel.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just glad I have batteries in my camera... I'll send them in to see if the Democrat will post them... hehehe
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i know. right in their house, again.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
:)
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
notfromnatchez we shoot snow here, we don't know how to run a snow plow so we shoot it.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL...that's a good one, sayitloud.
Posted by Classylady (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very sorry to hear about Mrs. Downer's breakin and glad that she is alright. The article implied she was home alone, because the intruder was in her husband's home office. The facts as stated in the article: " Downer said the man was wearing jeans and a dark leather blazer. She also said he had tightly cropped hair and was wearing something like a ski cap. Downer said the intruder was well built and judging by his build she believes him to be in is 20s or 30s.
Mullins said due to poor lighting conditions in the house, Downer was not able to speculate as to the man’s skin color. Mullins also said Downer said she did not hear a car leaving."
Based upon this information, maybe someone, a neighbor perhaps or God forbid-- a sex offender, may have been watching the house. The tightly cropped hair, leather jacket, age, etc. should provide some clue. Just an observation.
Posted by MrNobody (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hahaha I been telling everybody since Thursday it was going to snow!!!
Good day for some tea with s.comfort yumm
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
notfrom....bet you have snow where you are also don't you?
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Melanie!! At least you showed some guts and yelled at the guy. I'm sure that was a scary moment. Since he had an easy way out, he didn't need to attack. Sounds like the guy was a bit bigger than Mrs. Downer, but too bad she didn't beat him down with a baseball bat, or hold him at gunpoint for his arrest, or shoot him if need be.
I think folks should practice up on their martial arts skills and get ready for confrontation. The mental conditioning of confrontation, the yelling, danger, etc will help people react better, instead of running away, FIGHT, and let's get these burglars behind bars before he escalates his crimes to the next level and starts killing and raping. I pray for Natchez that we get these burglars soon before someone else gets hurt. Talk with your family members and make a plan for dealing with a home invasion. It's plain to see that this is not going away on its own until we catch these guys.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our snow was gone the next day.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Next time, call 911 before you go down. They could have been in the area before he ran. I am sure they do not mind helping you secure your door if that is all it is.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
so what good is a secuity system if they can get in this easily?
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad you are OK Melanie - get a good dead-bolts fitted. and maybe a panic button fitted -
Good to say you have a gun though ---
I hope they can catch this guy soon.
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If we all had the nerves of steel like Melenie & just use a stern voice & let the intruder know this is NOT his property & to leave immediately. Melenie is a very brave & lucky woman. On the other hand this was a gutsy intruder that was scared for his own life, he could have easily turned on her & it would have been another tragedy.
Posted by Fonzarosa (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't believe the alarm was activated if so it would have disabled
the motion sensor and allowed the doors to be enabled setting off the alarm. Most alarms have a Stay and Away function for this purpose but like myself I never set it when I'm home I have Mr Glock 40 cal at my bedside
Posted by natchezbum (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone hear about a woman pulling a gun on anouther woman in ntz walmart thursday, for bumping her buggy? Its going around the internet on emails.
Posted by natchezbum (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by six. If you have a gun, BE FAMILIAR with it. That is the best way. Guns are not for everybody. But I'm not expecting or waiting for someone else to protect me and mine!
Posted by LilyB (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
has anyone heard that someone turned themselves in for the robberies happening around town?
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not live in the area, but think the publishing of her name in the paper is a bad idea.
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't the description of the intruder sound like he could possibly be the marine who is wanted for murdering the pregnant female marine and then burned and buried her in his backyard?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah I got the email about the lady in Wal-Mart but I gotta tell you...I think it is just more email trash so you will send it around with a possible virus.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope this idiot and any other as stupid is caught by a 158 grain Premium Hydra-Shok round before the cops get to him.
Sick of reading about this caca.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitloud, I got the email about the woman in WM also, but I have a lot of questions about it. The whole story does not hang together. For instance, why would the 911 dispatcher call ACSO when the police dept. has jurisdiction and is less than a mile away? If the woman has done this before, why haven't we heard about it? Like I say, lots of questions would have to be answered before I believe it.
Posted by LilyB (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard a rumor that the person breaking into the houses around town has turned himself in. Has anyone else heard that?
Posted by LocustStorm (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet your chances of this happening to you would be GREATLY reduced, if you had a ROTTWEILER living inside!
Posted by LocustStorm (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JunkYardDawg - what description? Well built? LOL
Posted by Riz (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I too hear that the bandit has surrendered to the local authorities and is in captivity.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Point! The ACSO has as much authority in the City as the PD does! They can also respond to any emergency! Depends on the situation!
Posted by kcooper (Kevin Cooper) on January 19, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez Police report no arrests have been made yet, though they have a suspect. The rumors that someone turned himself into police are not true.
Our folks are working on a story.
Thanks.
Kevin
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for You! I'm glad it wasn't any worse. You are one brave woman!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW! Thanks for that melmildow! And great points and also thanks for not letting anyone run you off!
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, melmildow.
My home was burglarized once and I did not feel safe until I got a dog to stay inside with me and my family. I could not keep my pistol handy because my kids were young at the time. The gun was not taken during the robbery because it was locked up in a safe, but the gun box was opened and thrown on the floor, so I know it would have been stolen if it was not locked up. Now that the kids are grown, my guns are ready for any "uninvited guests". Like someone mentioned earlier, I would rather be critisized by 12 than carried by 6. Guns are not for everyone, as dogs are not for everyone. You just have to do what is most comfortable for you and your family. I'm glad to hear that you are not being scared out of your home and out of our town. We all need to stand tall and stand fast, working together to fight this problem.
Posted by madpop (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That just goes to show you roberth33 god was with the woman and the perp, so does that answer your question
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Use tactics that bankers and others use to avoid being kidnapped or robbed.
Change up your daily schedule and the path you take when go to work or to church. Park your car at home in different areas at different times of the day so nobody gets comfortable with a perceived schedule if they are watching your house. Swap cars sometimes so it looks harder to figure out if the wife is home alone.
Take turns picking each other up for functions and shopping so a criminal who is casing you never knows who will be coming and going and when. Cover all doors and windows with something at night so somebody can't see inside. Change up what lights you leave on at night.
Have lights outside in your yard that you can flip on from inside the house. Don't use them normally so a crook wouldn't know to disable them. Check your automatic spot lights to make sure they haven't been broken or removed. Make note of what service or repair persons who are strangers to you have been in your house recently. Come up with family code words that can be used on the phone or in a dark house that only you will understand the meaning. Get some gun safety training and use it if you have to.
Don't broadcast your travel intentions to everyone but your family and one neighbor you trust. The more people who know your business in a small town the more like lips are loose. Tty to be unpredictable and make them scared to try your house because they couldn't figure you out easily.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so glad you were not hurt mel and thank you so much for the additional information.
Posted by cchat123 (anonymous) on January 19, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay! Theives are getting ever more bold. NPD step up on your game...before someone is killed
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