Develop An Emergency Action Plan With Kids For Summer (Audio)

When children are out of school, and parents are away from home at work, sometimes adolescents and teens spend time at home alone.

St. Landry Parish Crime Stoppers spokesman Maj. Eddie Thibodeaux encourages parents who find themselves having to leave older children at home to develop a safety plan in the occurrence of an emergency.

Thibodeaux described a case that unfolded Wednesday afternoon where a 10-year-old and 19-year-old were at a home in rural St, Landry Parish when they heard burglars attempting to break in the home.

The children called their mother while hiding in a back room. She subsequently called 911.

Thibodeaux said St. Landry Parish Sheriff's deputy Sgt. Mike Darbonne responded to the scene within one minute and apprehended one of the three suspects who were attempting to break in the residence. Twenty-two-year-old Torian Lazard was arrested for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and resisting arrest.

The sheriff's office has issued an arrest warrants for the second suspect, Elijah Richard, who eluded deputies as he escaped through a wooded area nearby, and the driver of the get-away vehicle, Desmond Anthony.

Both of the children were unharmed.

This crime occurred at 3:25 p.m.--during broad daylight--Thibodeaux said.

Parents are urged to speak with their children about what to do, where to go and who to call, in case of an emergency. This applies to crime-related emergencies--like the story above-- and weather emergencies (flooding, tornadoes, power outages, etc.).