LSCO investigates NFM home invasion

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lee County deputies are looking for a man who forced his way inside a woman’s North Fort Myers home on Monday night.

Sharon Tinnin was home with her niece when someone knocked on her door. She says she answered because the man claimed to be a neighbor who said he had just been in an accident. Tinnin says she was caught off guard when she opened the door.

“I looked at him and he wasn’t my next door neighbor,” said Tinnin. “I started to try and close the door again and he grabs the door from me and yanks it open and then grabs me by my neck and says ‘open the door, get down on the floor!'”

After knocking the victim to the ground, the intruder was able to make his way inside the home.

“As soon as he looks inside, he got this startled look on his face and then took off,” said Tinnin.

Though the intruder didn’t take any of her belongings, Tinnin says he stole her sense of security.

“I’m in my home. I always felt safe here. I always felt safe in this neighborhood,” said Tinnin. “I never had any reason to feel like somebody would come to my home and attack me. This isn’t that kind of neighborhood.”

Tinnin has lived in her home for nearly eight years but says she’s now ready to move after the frightening attack. She says she’s afraid to leave her house after dark but even more afraid to be home all alone.

The intruder was able to get away, which is why Tinnin says she wants to warn others to be careful when answering the door.

“Most people think well if someone tried to get in my house, I’m going to do this to them or I’m going to do that to them,” said Tinnin. “But, when it’s actually happening to you, you are going to be in shock and your reaction time is not going to be what you may think it is.”