Suspected burglar surprised by homeowner taking shower

Police arrested a suspected burglar Tuesday afternoon minutes after he allegedly broke into a home in El Centro.

Robert Strauss, 36, is behind bars for allegedly burglarizing an apartment on Barbara Worth Drive while the owner was in the shower. Now neighbors are being extra careful.

Virginia Lee Storms said, “I have cameras up in the top and in the windows. And I have locks on the gates and locks on the back gates. And a 106-pound German Shephard.”

Rachel Cunningham said she has living home alarms.

“I have my little dogs here that they let me know if somebody’s around that’s not supposed to be. They start barking and letting me know,” Cunningham said.

Celina Lizette Felix said door and window safety comes first.

“I keep both doors locked, double locked. My windows have a bar, so they won’t be able to break in or open the window,” Felix said.

“Do not sleep with your doors and windows unlocked, you’re just inviting somebody to come in, especially with the burglaries that are going on right now we have to be extra vigilant,” Cunningham added.

They believe there’s safety in numbers, as well.

“As neighbors, we keep an eye out for each other. We do not have a neighborhood watch, per se,” Cunningham said.

“Usually there’s so many people. I have a big family. Somebody’s always here,” Storms said.

Police said Strauss was armed with a hammer and a knife, and fled when the victim stepped out of the shower and saw him. He ran through an apartment complex and a trailer park before being caught in the on Adams Avenue near North Imperial. They said he resisted arrest violently, spitting and trying to bite the officers. He’s charged with suspicion of burglary, battery, obstruction and parole violation.