Knife-Wielding Woman, 19, Scares Off Home Intruder

LAGUNA NIGUEL (CBS) — The Orange County Sheriff's Department warned Laguna Niguel residents to be on the lookout for a masked burglar who broke into a home early Monday but was scared off by a knife-wielding resident.

Deputies responded to a 911 call just before 3:40 a.m. about the break-in at a residence in the 100 block of Shorebreaker Drive, sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

A 19-year-old woman was alone in the home when said she heard the intruder, he said.

"She was able to arm herself with a large kitchen knife and started screaming and was able to scare the intruder off," Amormino said. "He ran off into the adjoining hillside."

Deputies cordoned off the area, but were unable to find the suspect after a two-hour search, Amormino said.

He was described as being about 6 feet tall with a stocky build, wearing a black ski mask, long-sleeved black shirt with black gloves and black pants, Amormino said.

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