Thiruvalla (Kerala): A 65-year-old woman living alone drove away a thief who broke into her house early Sunday by locking herself inside a bedroom and raising an alarm, prompting police intervention in Nedumpuram.

The incident occurred at the house of Safiya Noushad in Mukkatt house near Anthichandha. According to police, the thief broke the front door lock and entered the house in the early hours of Sunday.

Safiya said she woke up around 2.20 am and checked her phone before going back to bed. After about 10 minutes, she heard unusual noises outside her room. The bedroom is located on the upper floor of her two-storey house.

Soon after, she heard the sound of almirahs being opened on the ground floor, confirming her suspicion that someone had entered the house.

Safiya immediately called her daughter and son-in-law, who live about a kilometre away, and informed them about the situation. They advised her to lock the bedroom door securely while they alerted the police.

Her son-in-law then contacted the Pulikeezhu Police Station and reported the suspected burglary.

Also read| Fraud in the name of ‘I4C’: Scammers target citizens using AI videos and fake challans

Meanwhile, Safiya noticed the handle of her bedroom door turning, indicating that the intruder had reached the upper floor. She began shouting loudly that the police would arrive soon.

“The police are coming soon, stay there,” she shouted repeatedly, hoping to scare the intruder.

According to Safiya, the noise outside stopped soon after she raised the alarm. Within about half an hour, police officers arrived at the house, followed by her daughter and son-in-law.

After they reached the house, Safiya opened the bedroom door and came out. Police said cupboards on the ground floor had been opened, but no major valuables appeared to have been stolen.

In a separate incident reported the same night in the same area, a burglary took place at a house in Anthichandha belonging to the late neurosurgeon Sajeev Thomas. The house, currently locked as the family lives abroad, had its front door broken open.

Also Read| Bhutan vehicle case: Smuggling racket challenging national security exposed in Operation Numkhor

Police said the exact details of any missing items will be known only after the children of Sajeev Thomas, who live overseas, arrive and inspect the house.

CCTV footage from a camera installed near the property reportedly shows a man walking near the house around 3 am carrying a crowbar and a machete.

Police from Pulikeezhu station have launched an investigation into both incidents.

Local residents said the Nedumram area has witnessed around ten burglary attempts or thefts over the past three months.