Four Ohio State students almost lost their TV Monday afternoon when a man walked into their off-campus house and took it.
Natalie Radabaugh, a third-year in political science and security and intelligence, was studying in her room when she heard someone coming into her house.
“I thought it was my roommate because she normally gets home around that time,” Radabaugh said. “Then I started to hear some strange noises, so I called out her name.”
When she came out to see what the noises were, Radabaugh saw that it was not her roommate in the house, but a man taking her TV.
Radabaugh said her first instinct was to chase him and get the TV back.
“I know now that it probably was not a good idea, but it was my initial reaction,” Radabaugh said.
As she chased the man down, she yelled to neighbors who were outside, asking them for help. A few of them began to chase the man with Radabaugh while another called the police. Radabaugh said the man dropped the television, but continued to run.
Radabaugh said the police told her they caught up to the man one street over.
One of Radabaugh’s roommates, Stacie Sapp, a third-year in marketing, was walking home from class as the incident occurred.
“She texted me and said ‘Our house just got robbed.’ I think my jaw literally dropped,” Sapp said.
The man, Stanley Sydnor, was arrested and charged with burglary Monday. He was on parole for breaking into an OSU off-campus house in 2011 when Monday’s incident occurred, according to ABC6.
Radabaugh said leaving the door unlocked is something unusual for the residents.
“It was nice on Monday, so we had the door open because we have a screen door as well. We were trying to get some air inside so we did not have to turn on the air conditioning,” Radabaugh said.
Some other off-campus OSU students said they leave their doors unlocked most of the time, but that the attempted robbery changes their perspective.
“Hearing about this break-in that happened in the afternoon makes me a little more cautious,” said Jenna Banks, a second-year in communication. “I might consider keeping my doors locked at all times now because I know I don’t live in a great area.”
Sapp said she and her roommates are taking more precautions, but they still feel safe living in the house.
“We still keep the screen door open, but if no one is downstairs in that room we shut the door and lock it,” Sapp said. “I still feel safe. I never thought this would happen, but at least they caught the guy.”
