Kids praised for quick thinking during home invasion

DALLAS - A 15-year-old girl stayed calm for her two younger siblings when they were home alone when burglars broke into her family's Dallas house. Her dad is praising her for how she handled the situation.

The single father of three says nothing like this has ever happened before and felt comfortable leaving his kids in the care of their 15-year-old sister while he attended a community event. But what happened to his kids has shattered his sense of security.

Diallo Dotson Sr. says he's guilt-ridden over leaving his three kids home alone last Thursday night.

“I felt like if I hadn't been doing what I was doing community wise, I'd have been at home with my children,” the father said.

Dotson was volunteering at a community event when his 15-year-old daughter, Diavonne heard a knock at the front door of their southeast Oak Cliff home. She says she went back to her room to call her dad to tell them two strangers were outside. Seconds later, she heard a smash. The crooks had gotten into the home through a front window.

“When they came, I scooted down and put the covers over my head,” the 15-year-old recalled. “I tried to call. Then they came into my room, and one of them tried to touch me on my back. When I looked up to see them, they ran out.”

The teen called 911 while her 12-year-old sister and 9-year-old brother hid in another bedroom.

Dotson, who didn't hear his cell phone ring, saw an alarming text message from his daughter that told him somebody had just broken into the house. He says he sped home while trying to get a hold of his daughter.

“I didn't get an answer when I called, so I didn't know if someone had killed my children or raped my children,” the father said.

Dotson says he pulled up to his house and was surprised to find that he beat police. He vividly remembered seeing the window shattered and front door wide open. To his relief, the crooks were gone. His three kids were safe.

“Because of my love for people, I decide to be away from my house, not thinking someone is fixing to break into my house,” Dotson said.

Diavionne said she wasn’t scared when the men broke in. She said she was focused on calling 911 and protecting her siblings. She wasn't able to get a look at the burglars since she was hiding under the covers. Dad says the crooks made off with about $160 in cash.