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72-Year-Old Grandma Bites Robber

EAST ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A 72-year-old East St. Paul woman found an effective way to deter robbers in her home. Nina Kraft bit one of them in the arm.

"I'm not going to let someone walk over me and I'm not going to let someone tell me to get on the ground," said Kraft.

The attempted burglary happened last Wednesday afternoon. Nina's daughter, Linda Kraft, and her children were home when three intruders walked in. There were a total of eight people in the house including Linda's 19-year-old son.

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"I think they were looking to rob my son," said Linda. She identified one of the men as someone who had come to a barbecue once before.

Linda said a short time later, her youngest son began fighting the men off. He got away from the men and darted to the front door to let his family out. But in the kitchen, Linda's 72-year-old mother Nina was left with one of the men.

"When my mom got up, one of the men grabbed her by the neck and kind of was choking her," said Linda.

But grandma fought back. She bit the man on the arm.

"When he grabbed me around the neck, I bit his arm hard enough, then he shoved me down on the floor," said Nina.

She began untying the man's shoes and holding on to his legs. While this was happening, Linda's oldest son went to his room and grabbed a sword.

"When my grandson came out with the sword he looked at me on the floor and said 'Hell no, not my grandma,'" said Nina. "When he waived that thing around in here, that was the end of it."

A short time later, the three intruders fled the home but were later apprehended by police and identified.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports burglary charges were filed against Melvin Lawrence Combs, 27; Rigoberto Martinez, 23; and James Marvel Shaw, 26.

One of the suspects told police he went to the house to settle a dispute with Nina's grandson.

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