Watch CBS News

EXCLUSIVE: 93-Year-Old Woman Thwarts Robbery In New Castle County

By Diana Rocco

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  Police in Delaware are searching for some scam artists who used distraction to try and steal from a 93-year-old woman.

They even locked her in her basement.

"I say you get out of here and don't you dare come in this house again," Peggy Crozier said.

The 93-year-old decided she was fighting back when a robber posing as a utility worker showed up at her back door Wednesday. He showed credentials and said he needed to check the water.

"I let him in. And he says well we have to go down the cellar because I want to show you what I'm going to do. I said, well what's the matter? He said well, something down the street," Crozier said.

"While she was downstairs is when we believe that the second subject entered the residence," Officer Tracey Duffy of New Castle County Police said.

After several minutes of turning the faucets on and off, Mrs. Crozier became suspicious.

"After a while, I thought what's the matter with him? I thought this don't seem right. And I thought well I left the back door open. I got to go upstairs," she said.

The suspect jumped in front of her, ran up the stairs and closed her inside the basement. Eventually she was able to push her way out. That's when she saw a second man and grabbed his arm.

"I said I want out and I kept banging on the door," she said. "And I opened the door and I pushed him way out."

She added, "I said get out. I saw this guy's arm and I pulled his arm."

Police say both men fled the house without taking a thing.

"I feel safe. I just look back at what happened and I can't believe I did the things that I did," Crozier said.

New Castle County Police are now working on sketches of the suspects. They are warning everyone to be on alert and suspicious if someone claiming to be from the utility company shows up at the front door without calling first.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Castle County Police Department at 302-395-8110.  Citizens can also visit our website at www.nccpd.com. The public may also provide a text tip at: 847411 (TIP411), begin your message with NCCPD and then type your message. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook at New Castle County Police Department.  Citizens who currently have the smartphone application are encouraged to use the "submit tip" tab to submit tips.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.