UPDATE: New Hartford Police say they are continuing to investigate the alleged incident.

A Central New York mom is warning others after a terrifying incident at her home.

"I truly thought I was going to die." Those are the words Jennifer of New Hartford wrote in a warning to other residents, after she says a "large man in a hooded sweatshirt" walked right into her home, and whispered "shhhhh."

Jennifer says, with her three children upstairs, she could only think to scream and curl into a ball on her kitchen floor. The man finally left. Jennifer says the New Hartford Police Department searched for the man - bringing in canine units - but were unable to find him.

We spoke to Jennifer, and she told us "this man was not afraid to walk in with my car in driveway and all lights on."

After the incident, Jennifer wants to warn others. In a Facebook post, she writes:

"New Hartford friends...Lock your doors, close garage doors, and turn alarm systems on! A large man in a hooded sweatshirt came into my home and walked straight towards me with his hand under his sweatshirt and what appeared to be a gun. He only said “Shh” to me as he came closer. This prompted me to scream at the top of my lungs and throw myself into a ball on the floor. My crazy display sent him back out of the house or he realized there was nothing worth stealing! This was the scariest moment of my life because I truly thought I was going to die. I’m so grateful my kids were upstairs and only heard my screaming. It’s been a long night with cops at our house! They were very thorough and did everything they could to find the man including bringing in a canine unit but he got away. I will never leave a door unlocked again. I just wanted to warn other local friends that he is still out there."

The incident allegedly occurred in a home between Higby and Chapman Roads in New Hartford. Jennifer's warning should be taken seriously, whether you live in New Hartford or elsewhere: be sure to lock your doors, close your garage doors, and, if you have an alarm system - use it.

Jennifer did have high praise for the NHPD, "The police were fantastic but couldn’t catch him. They were thorough and had their canine unit checking out the grounds. They were super with (my son) who was so scared and kept asking them to check closets and under his bed."

We'll reach out to the New Hartford Police Department for comment, and update this story as appropriate.

 

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