. >> reporter: thousands of residents like jane whitecell were told to lock windows and doors and keep porch lights on throughout the night. >> every day i come out and make sure, was it picked? and i check this and i shake it. >> reporter: you can tell if somebody has broken in? while jane's daughter logged on to listen to police scanners. >> right now, there's 905 listeners on this one so far. last night, there was about 6,000 listening. >> reporter: then, on october 17th, a woman out for a walk says she came within 15 feet of the armed man as he emerged from the woods near his old high school. she spoke with wnep, but too afraid to show her face. >> yeah, he was holding the gun down and facing away from me. >> the individual's description was consistent with frein and he was observed carrying a rifle. >> reporter: others thinking of how they would protect themselves. have you thought about what you'd do if you see him in your backyard? >> i don't think he stands a chance if he comes in my backyard. >> reporter: at last tonight, weeks of terror and, in a capture pulled off without a