Palmer Family Credits Son's Facebook Posts for Foiling Burglary

April 26, 2012|By Jason Lamb | Channel 2 News

PALMER, Alaska — A Palmer family says their 12-year-old son's quick-thinking actions likely stopped a burglary attempt they say went on at their home Wednesday afternoon.

Zion Rogers says he'd just come home from Palmer Junior Middle School Wednesday when he heard someone entering through an unlocked door, walking across the floor, and entering some of the rooms in the house.

"That really started to frighten me, and the next thing I knew I heard drawers opening," Zion said.

By then, Zion says he had fled to the bathroom and closed the door.

Without a phone, the Internet on Zion's iPod Touch was the only he could tell people something was wrong. He turned to the Facebook app on his iPod, and typed out a message.

"It said, 'I think there's a robber in the house, please call my mom,'" Zion explained.

The message apparently got the attention of many of Zion's friends and family members.

"My phone starts blowing up with message, message, message, message, saying, 'This is Zion's friend, he's in trouble, he needs help,'" said Shawna Rogers, Zion's mother.

While Shawna says she called 911, Zion's dad -- who also saw the message -- called his home, trying to get in contact with Zion.

"Zion, you there? Get out of there," he said in the message. "Mom will be there in a minute."

Zion says he thinks that phone call scared off the apparent burglar, who ran away through the back door. Zion's mother, who arrived minutes later, says she could tell because the deadbolt was thrown in the unlocked position -- something she says she never allows.

Alaska State Troopers confirm they responded to calls about a burglary at the Rogers' home, but because the doors were unlocked, there were no signs of forced entry.

The Rogers family says nothing was missing from their home after the incident.

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