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Moments after putting her son to bed on Good Friday, Kristy Dunlop could hear a disturbance in the kitchen.
Police say the mother of two found a suspected home invader trying to steal a laptop, and the terrifying ordeal ended with the 43-year-old woman needing stitches in her head.
Ms Dunlop told 9News about the incident and said her six-year-old son is terrified of strangers in the house; “He literally witnessed his worst nightmare.”
The incident occurred in the eastern Perth suburb of Riversdale at around 9pm on March 29.
Dunlop said she and her husband accidentally left the garage door open when they got home.
They did not realize the door was open and, while putting her six-year-old son to bed, Mrs Dunlop heard a noise in the kitchen.
Assignment Freelance Picture Perth mother-of-two Kristy Dunlop was attacked in her home in the city’s east by a suspected thief on Friday night. Image: 9News
He went to investigate and saw a person allegedly taking his laptop.
“I went out and confronted him and grabbed him, he kind of screamed to let him go,” Mrs Dunlop said.
“We fought down the hallway, he dropped my laptop.”
Police will allege Ms Dunlop was then hit on the head with a mallet.
Later, at the hospital, six staples were applied to the wound.
Police alleged the intruder also stole a mobile phone and car keys, before Dunlop’s husband chased them away.
“I think I’m actually lucky, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been my kids,” he said.
“My six-year-old son, who has trouble sleeping because he’s afraid of someone breaking into the house or breaking into it, has now literally witnessed his worst nightmare and that’s really difficult as a parent.”
Police arrested a 15-year-old boy and are continuing to investigate.