Daniel Maurer

An East Village woman got some surprise house guests in the early-morning hours of April 6.

Around 1:20 a.m., three young men clambered up a fire escape ladder at 500 East 11th Street and entered the first window they found open — likely in search of valuables like MacBooks and iPads, said Deputy Inspector John Cappelmann, commanding officer of the Ninth Precinct.

Upon entering the apartment, they surprised the occupant, a woman who was alone and awake. She ran out the door and from her neighbor’s apartment called the police, who quickly arrested the teenagers, said Mr. Cappelmann.

Bronx resident Diejo Martinez, 19, already on probation for burglary, was caught along with a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, also from the Bronx; they claimed that they were visiting a friend in the area, saw the fire escape and wanted to see what was at the top, according to Mr. Cappelmann.

The building on the corner of Avenue A is where a controversial 7-Eleven is under construction on the ground floor.