71-Year-Old Man with One Leg Fights Off Home Intruder

A 71-year-old Shorewood man with one leg managed to fight off a home intruder on Friday - using his crutches to chase away the bad guy.

The victim told Patch that he was sleeping in his bed when he was awakened by a man who appeared to be in his mid-30s standing above him.

"I need money. I need money now," the victim quoted the suspect as saying.

However, the victim told the intruder that he was a broke veteran who didn't have any cash.

The 71-year-old then jumped out of bed without his prosthetic leg, picked up his crutches and confronted the man.

"I got out of bed without my leg and told the man to get out," said the victim, who lost one of his legs when a drunken driver crashed into him years ago.

When the suspect attempted to grab a leather coat hanging on a door, the victim said he grabbed the coat out of the suspect's hands and told him to get out of the house.

The suspect left empty-handed.

Shorewood police say the suspect smashed out the living room window and climbed into the home in the 700 block of East Glendale Avenue.

Police added when the suspect climbed through the glass he left traces of blood behind, which may help authorities track down the intruder.

The victim, whom Patch is not identifying to protect his privacy, said he wasn't frightened by the unexpected visitor and that his adrenaline  just took over.