Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Heartwarming: 92-Yr-Old Fights Off Home Intruder
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 3, 2012
Modified Jan 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
WCBS 2
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 3, 2012
Modified Jan 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A 92-year-old New Rochelle resident found out the hard way that it's a good idea to lock your front door. Tony Vanacore tells New Rochelle's Talk of the Sound, "God gave me the strength to go down those stairs and punch this guy."
According to WCBS 2, the suspect "entered Vanacore’s home through the unlocked front door where he was met by Vanacore’s caregiver, Mariana. Mariana and the intruder were struggling on a staircase when Vanacore got up and joined the fight." Vanacore said, "I pulled his hat off his head to see what the hell he looked like. He had his hat down to his eyes, and then I ran up to dial 911. He ran up after me and shut the phone off and I re-dialed and he ran away."
Also, adding to the drama, was the gun that the intruder was wielding. Vanacore's nurse actually grabbed it, because she didn't think it was real—and she was right, it broke when she touched it.
Vanacore proudly added, "The funny thing is, I use a walker, but when all this was happening, I was running without no help and fighting with him because he was harming my caretaker. I gave him some pretty good shots. He gave me some shots too. I got bruises." One tip: "You keep your left hand out and counterpunch." He also said, after living in his home for over 50 years, he'd finally start locking his front door.
Police think the robbery attempt could be connected with other home invasions in the area.
Tagged
elderly man
go grandpa go
home invasion
new rochelle
old man
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 4:03 p.m. ET
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
A 39-year-old woman was attacked near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday night, police said. No arrests had been made as of Monday.
By
Charles Lane
News
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
A 39-year-old woman was attacked near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday night, police said. No arrests had been made as of Monday.
By
Charles Lane
Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas tree is a 76-foot spruce from Upstate New York
By
Giulia Heyward
‘A killer cop lives here’: Brooklyn arrests raise questions about limits of free speech
By
Ben Feuerherd
What to expect and avoid in NYC’s Halloween, voting, marathon and daylight saving weekend
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .