Reporter gets help from flack's Blackberry

WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- The Washington reporter for a Tennessee newspaper, tied up by a burglar who invaded his house, got help by texting a home-state senator's press officer.

Lee Pitts, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., told The Politico he was startled when he saw the subject line of the message from Herman Wang of the Chattanooga Times Free Press: "Please call 911 for me."

Wang was working in his home office Wednesday when he heard someone in his house. The man, who appeared to think that Wang owed a gambling debt, tied him up and took items from the house before leaving, telling Wang someone would be arriving to take care of him, The Politico reported.

The burglar stole Wang's laptop and cell phone but did not spot his wife's computer. Wang, trying to think of the best place to send a message, decided that a political staffer like Pitts was certain to be carrying a Blackberry.

Once he had seen Wang's message, Pitts called 911 and then relayed messages back and forth with Wang and the police. He was impressed because Wang's typing remained almost perfect with only one misplaced apostrophe, The Politico said.