Elderly woman foils burglary

Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- A veiled threat from a startled yet courageous 81-year-old

woman who was rustled from her bed Friday morning by a burglar eventually

led to his arrest.

Hien Le, 31, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and a parole

violation. Le was found by police shortly after the suspect had a

confrontation with the elderly victim.

The break-in occurred about 2:20 a.m. at a home on the 2000 block of

Westminster Avenue. Le allegedly broke a window with a potted plant.

The noise reportedly awoke the victim, who was sleeping upstairs. The

woman went downstairs unbeknownst to the burglar and confronted him. When

they came face to face, the victim had some choice words for the prowler.

“She told him if he didn’t leave, she would get her gun and shoot him,”

said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Don Holford. “She was shaken up, but it

apparently did the job because he left.”

Instead of retreating to where he had come from, Le decided to run out

the front door.

Police were notified of the burglary and searched for the suspect in the

immediate area. Le was found about a block away, hiding from authorities.

Police recovered some cash, a cellular phone and a checkbook, all

belonging to the victim.

Holford couldn’t confirm whether the suspect was responsible for other

burglaries in the area, but wouldn’t rule it out.

“There is always that possibility,” he said. “We are looking into whether

he was involved in any other crimes.”