CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — A Chula Vista homeowner encountered an intruder as she was getting dressed in her bedroom, before giving chase.
Russell Buckley was alerted to his Ring doorbell video around 6:45 a.m. Friday. A person in a red hoodie was lurking near the front door of his home off Otay Lakes Road, while Buckley was out of town on business.
"Tried to text my wife to let her know someone was in front of my house," said Buckley.
About 25 minutes later, he got another alert. The video showed his wife screaming, as she chased that same man across their lawn.
"Absolute panic," said Buckley.
He phoned his wife Victoria and learned what happened. She was in her bedroom getting dressed while their housekeeper was working in the house. His wife had just put on her shoes when the door opened. A young man with a red hoodie walked in.
"She screamed. He screamed and turned around and ran back down the stairs," said Buckley.
As he ran, her fear turned into rage.
"How dare you come into my home ... She has a protective instinct," said Buckley.
His petite, 52-year-old wife - all of five feet tall - gave chase.
"From what I'm told, he dove across the counter and out the window," said Buckley.
Buckley showed us a shattered kitchen window, which he says was both the entry and exit point. He says his wife ran out the front door and sprinted toward the intruder, screaming.
"At one point, she's able to grab him," said Buckley.
She tugged at a pillowcase he was holding, stuffed with her daughter's jewelry, but the man got away and into a getaway car - a silver sedan.
Buckley is grateful his wife was not hurt, fand still shaking his head over her leap into action.
"Told her it wasn't the wisest decision, but I'm very proud of her. It was a fight or flight instinct, and more of a fight for her," said Buckley.
Buckley says among the items stolen: a gold Chilean communion medallion in his wife's family for more than a century.
Police told the Buckleys four young men were recorded in the neighborhood stealing license plates right before the break-in. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
