Elderly Md. woman fends off burglar with reacher

[September 24, 2008]  ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Police said an elderly woman fended off a man who broke into her Annapolis-area home using a reacher device used to grasp objects.

Police say two elderly women were in their home on Cedar Lane in the Hillsmere community about 3:20 a.m. Monday when the man kicked in the door. He demanded money, but they said they had none.

Police said after the man started going through a purse, one of the women grabbed the reacher and used it to repel him. Police said the man fled with the purse.

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Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/

[Associated Press]

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