KITCHENER - A Guelph woman escaped unharmed Thursday after finding a man with a knife in her living room.
Police say the man broke into the house, near College Avenue East and Gordon Street and just a short distance from the University of Guelph campus, around 2:35 p.m.
The woman had been on an upper floor at the time of break-in.
Police say when she came downstairs she spotted a chair blocking her front door.
She then saw a man with a knife standing in the corner of her living room.
The woman quickly ran out the back door and called police.
When officers arrived at the scene the intruder was still inside.
"Upon entering the home we kind of chased the male out the back door," said Constable Kyle Grant. "After a brief foot pursuit they were able to apprehend him and arrested him."
Police say the 20-year-old Burlington man was carrying two knives, two identity documents that didn’t belong to him and stolen property.
He’s been charged with break and enter, possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose and possession of identity documents.
Police say the home was probably chosen at random and believe other homes may have been targeted by the suspect.
Cst. Grant has some advice for homeowners.
"It's always good to be vigilant with your houses. Lock all your doors, close all your windows. Make sure you don't make your house an easier targer than others."
