It was about 6:30 in the morning a week ago Monday when people along Ryon Court in Sykesville got an unexpected wake up call.
"I had just been outside with my dog and there was nothing on the street and within 15 minutes, we were surrounded with state and local authorities and it was very scary," said Lisa Van.
But it was nothing like the rude awakening, which awaited 23-year old Paul Claudel Bikoi as police responding to a 911 call from a homeowner found the suspected criminal asleep on the job.
"There was somebody on the couch sleeping... had their headset on and was out cold," said Kris Hill who lives a few doors down.
Bikoi told police his mother had kicked him out of his house on Sunday, and he was just looking for a place to spend the night.
He could not explain the very real looking fake handgun found on the kitchen floor or the loot he'd collected while the family was asleep.
"Located on and around him, they located the victim's driver’s license, credit cards, a cell phone, as well as a bag containing numerous electronic items that again were stored in a bag," said Cpl. Jonathan Light of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
If this story reminds you of a childhood fairy tale... well, Paul Bikoi is no Goldilocks, but most agree he's lucky the homeowner called the law when he awoke rather than taking the law into his own hands.
"I guess it's good for him,” said Van, “I think the Mama Bear in me... I think after my nerves had calmed down, I probably might have taken a foot to his backside... so for him, it's probably the best possible outcome and for them too. It could have been much, much worse."
It appears the suspect entered the home through a garage door that had been left open.
He now faces a series of theft and burglary charges, and he's been freed after posting bond.
