Woman awakes to find burglar in house

A Van Wert man who got caught trying to burglarize a city home while the residents were home faces burglary charges in Van Wert Municipal Court this morning.

City police were called to the 700 block of Forest Avenue a little after 6:30 a.m. Sunday when a woman was awakened and found a burglar in her home.

Although the woman apparently spooked the burglar, who fled out the rear door of the dwelling, he was found by police outside the house and arrested.

The suspect, Gregory A. Mitchener, 39, of 7772 Lincoln Highway, will appear for a preliminary hearing in Van Wert Municipal Court at 11 this morning on a charge of burglary.