Gun-toting woman, 85, nabs burglar

POINT MARION, Pa., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Police in western Pennsylvania say an 85-year-old woman caught an alleged teenage burglar, held him at gunpoint and made him dial 911.

When police arrived at Leda Smith's house in Lake Lynn, the 17-year-old was lying face down on the floor while Smith kept her .22-caliber handgun pointed at him, the Uniontown Herald Standard reported.

Smith, in an interview with WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, said she realized something was wrong Sunday when she came home from church and found the front door open. She tiptoed into the house and retrieved her gun from her bedroom.

She had been keeping her gun next to her bed since burglars hit a neighbor's house recently.

After she forced the teen to dial 911, she had him hand her the phone and explained what was going on.

"It was exciting," Smith said. "I just hope I broke up the ring because they have been hitting a lot of places around here."

State Trooper Christian Lieberum said the teen is expected to be charged with attempted burglary in juvenile court.