An Ephrata woman caught a burglar rummaging through her closet Sunday afternoon, and with the help of a neighbor, managed to detain him until police arrived. It all started around 4pm on the first block of W. Sunset Ave. in Ephrata Borough. Police received a call that an unknown man had walked into a home. When the caller asked the man what he was doing there, the man left. Just half an hour later, while police were still in the area investigating that call, another resident on the same block called to say she caught a burglar in her closet.
The second resident told police she cornered the man using a large kitchen knife. The intruder threw a vase through a window in an attempt to escape the house. But he was couldn’t escape through the broken window. The commotion drew the attention of another female neighbor who rushed to the aid of the homeowner and physically held the man down on the ground until police arrived and took him in custody.
The suspect initially provided a false name to police but was later identified as Steven Lee Sensenig, 31, of 406 Washington Ave. Apt 5, in Ephrata.
Police say about 20 minutes prior to the first call for trespassing, a car was stolen from the first block of E Main St. in Ephrata Borough.
Sensenig admitted to police that he stole the car and parked it approximately 2 blocks from where he was later arrested.
Sensenig was charged with burglary, vehicle theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and false identification to law enforcement.
