Police: Man breaks into Elgin home with gardening shears

(ELGIN) A man has been charged with breaking into a home Sunday in northwest suburban Elgin and threatening the homeowner with gardening shears.

Phillip O. Esparra-Colon, 28, was charged with home invasion and residential burglary, according to Elgin police.

About 8:15 p.m. Sunday, a man was inside his home in the 100 block of South State Street when he heard a knock on his door, police said. When the man answered, he was confronted by another man and a struggle ensued.

During the struggle, the resident was cut on his hand, but pushed the suspect out of the home and locked the door, police said. The victim told police the man pointed a shotgun at him.

After he locked the suspect out, the victim heard glass breaking and called police. The suspect had broken two windows and stolen a television.

Officers arrested Esparra-Colon and found metal gardening shears near the home. The victim later said he mistook the shears for a shotgun.

Esparra-Colon, of the 3000 block of South Street in Elgin, was ordered held on a $250,000 bond in court Tuesday morning.