Woman chases off armed fake utility worker intruder with knife

A man pretending to be a utility worker broke into a Washington Township home armed with a gun.

Two women were home and one of them confronted the intruder with a knife Friday morning in the Crystal Creek subdivision off 26 Mile near Mound Road in Washington Township. 

At 9:30 the woman at home heard a knock on the door and the suspect told her he was doing work in her neighborhood and needs to get on the property.

"They claimed there was a gas leak and they wanted to find the source," said a neighbor. She opened the door and they rushed in."

One of the men rushed her, going inside the house on Moon Creek Court. The suspect now inside the home has a gun. But he also gets a big surprise from the woman's mother.

"The other lady grabbed a knife and chased him off," the neighbor said. "They got scared off."

He had a small black handgun, but mom had a large knife. He quickly retreated and ran out the door.

Both the mother and her 37-year-old daughter were unharmed and both very relieved.

The suspect jumped into a black van with a sliding door with a getaway driver inside.

He is described as a black male about five feet, seven inches with a medium build and about 30 years old. He was wearing a dark hoodie, dark pants and a light green reflective coat.

The Macomb County Sheriff is asking any home owner who may have security video that captured the black van to please speak up. Contact them at (586) 469-5151 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.