FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A burglar posing as a disabled veterans worker picked the wrong house to try and rob Tuesday.
The northeast Fresno home belonged to a police officer who now has a warning for other homeowners.
Fresno Police Officer Shawn Cowart says he was sleeping when he heard someone at his front door, not knocking, but breaking in.
When Cowart opened the door the guy said he was just putting out hand bills to collect for disabled veterans, but the broken door lock told another story.
"So I told him the cops are coming and saw he had a knife in his pocket," described Cowart. "I pulled that out. I threw that away. He starts getting up. I try and hold him and his shirt rips."
The man did get away, but Cowart says locking his deadbolt lock gave him the time to get up and confront the would-be thief, so make sure you lock yours.
Representatives at the Disabled American Veterans office in Fresno say their workers always have identification and will never ask for money.
