A late-night prowler in northern Kentucky got more than he bargained for when he broke into a home early Monday morning. Instead of getting away with the contents of the home or harming the residents inside, he was taken into custody by deputies... though not before he managed to fill his belly with food from the fridge. 

A Jennings County man is facing charges after police say he broke into a home, ate food from the kitchen and chased a woman inside before being held at gunpoint by the homeowner.

In a Facebook post from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, deputies say 27-year-old Jonathan Skaggs committed the crimes.

It all started around 2:00 in the morning Monday, when Skaggs allegedly broke into the home on County Road 150 South in Jennings County. Police say Skaggs then made himself a meal before entering a woman’s bedroom.

He then allegedly chased the woman around the home, before a male homeowner got a gun and held Skaggs at gunpoint until police could arrive. Skaggs allegedly told police he had tried to break into multiple homes, but chose this one because it was unlocked.

It sounds like Skaggs wasn't just looking for a midnight snack when he entered the home. If food was all that he was after, he could have left the home as quietly as he entered. Instead, he went after one of the residents. The Jennings County Sheriff's Office hasn't said if Skaggs was armed when he broke into the home, but the fact that he pursued the woman through the home rather than fleeing into the midnight air when he was discovered is pretty disturbing. Thankfully, even if Skaggs was unarmed one of the residents was able to access a firearm, stopping Skaggs from proceeding any further with his plans. 

“This was a very scary incident for a local homeowner that could have had a much more tragic ending,” Jennings County Chief Deputy Cody Low said. “We want to strongly advise residents to make sure that they lock their homes.”

Yeah, even if you live in a quiet, low-crime, rural area, it's a good idea to keep your doors and windows locked. Though I'm generally more concerned about nocturnal visitors of the four-legged kind (looking at you, chicken-killing raccoons), I still make sure all my doors are locked after I walk my dogs for the last time each night. It's just a part of my evening routine, even though we've never had a late-night prowler. 

But let's be honest. A locked door or window may slow down an intruder, but if they're intent on getting inside they'll probably be able to do so. It's also a good idea to have a plan, or at least the means to defend yourself, if someone does gain entry. 

Like most defensive gun uses, the homeowner in Jennings County was able to stop a dangerous situation from escalating without having to pull the trigger. Hopefully, this was a teachable moment for Skaggs, and the next time he gets a hankering for a late-night meal (or more) he'll whip up a snack in his own kitchen instead of looking for grub in all the wrong places.