CBS2 Exclusive: Staten Island Couple Recalls Encounter With Alleged Burglar In Search Of Food

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Staten Island couple had a strange encounter on Tuesday, waking in the middle of the night to find themselves face-to-face with a suspected burglar.

Just after midnight that morning, Susan Saeed heard a loud noise at the back of her home on Clove Road in West Brighton. She rolled over and woke up her fiance, Eric.

"We were sleeping, so I got out of my bed to investigate," she said speaking exclusively with CBS2's Dave Carlin.

A stranger was inches from her feet, collapsed on the floor of the hallway.

"Gray pants, gray shirt, and a red cap. The man got up and said 'Aaarrrgggh!' and I closed the door and said, 'oh my God is an intruder in the house," she said.

Back in the bedroom the panicked couple called 911, while the suspect caused damage in the hallway.

"Trying to get away he pulled all this out," she said.

Saeed said her fiance ignored her pleas to stay in the bedroom, and confronted the suspect -- holding him down in the kitchen until police arrived.

James Hawkins, 36, has been charged with burglary, trespassing, and criminal mischief in connection with the incident.

"I was going to take food for my kids," he allegedly told the arresting officers.

After he was led away in handcuffs the couple was able to assess the damage. A locked back door was kicked in, and must be replaced along with a gate to the backyard.

"He really forced it. He really broke it down," Saeed said, "I do feel lucky."

She's just glad no one was hurt.