CHICAGO SUBURBAN TIMES
December 26, 1991 | VOL. 45, NO. 12

HEADLINE: “Local Boy Foils Burglars with Ingenious Traps”

BYLINE: Sarah Whitman, Staff Reporter

In a bizarre and potentially dangerous turn of events, eight-year-old Kevin McAllister of Lincoln Blvd single-handedly thwarted a holiday burglary. According to police sources, Kevin’s family had inadvertently left him home alone. In their absence, two known criminals—Harry Lime and Marv Merchants—attempted to break in.

Neighbors reported hearing “loud crashes” and “strange screams,” prompting several calls to the authorities. Upon arrival, police discovered the thieves had fallen victim to multiple “booby traps” set up by the resourceful child.

“I heard them yelling and yelping in pain,” said neighbor Miriam Jenkins. “Poor kid—he was all by himself. But apparently, he knew exactly what to do.”

Though the burglars sustained minor injuries, the boy was unharmed. Chicago PD officials caution the public against replicating such traps, noting that while the outcome was fortunate in this case, there is a fine line between self-defense and endangerment. The McAllister family could not be reached for comment.