A Missouri woman was arrested after police say she broke into a home in Springfield and started eating cereal in the kitchen.
According to a probable cause statement, Teara Joann Smith was taken into custody on March 3 after a homeowner called police when her son discovered a stranger inside the house.
The son reportedly came downstairs after smelling something burning and found Smith in the kitchen eating Fruity Pebbles and petting the family dog. He told his mother there was “a strange lady in the kitchen eating cereal.”
The homeowner confronted Smith and told her to clean up the mess before officers arrived. Police later found milk and cereal scattered across the floor and noticed a burnt smell coming from the kitchen. Authorities also said Smith was not wearing pants, shoes, or socks and had a jacket tied around her waist.
Officers said Smith appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and took several minutes to provide her name while making nonsensical comments.
The following day, Smith told police she had been walking around when she saw the house and thought it was a “fair.” She said she knocked on the door, rang the bell, heard something inside, and then walked in. Once inside, she said she was hungry and decided to eat cereal.
Smith denied turning the stove on and told police it was already on when she arrived. Authorities also said she admitted to using marijuana before the incident. She has been charged with first-degree burglary and has pleaded not guilty.