Four American Canyon youngsters got a scare when they thought they saw an intruder in their home on Thursday afternoon.

The kids, all pre-teens, were alone in their home on Gadwall Court. The family dog had gotten loose, and the children’s mother had left the youngsters briefly when she went to catch the dog, American Canyon Police Sgt. Craig Nickles said.

“It’s a two-story home. The kids did the right thing. They called 911 and locked themselves in the upstairs master bathroom and continued to talk to (police) dispatch,” Nickles said.

At least seven police officers and the CHP helicopter converged to the scene.

“We set up a perimeter and searched the area, but found nothing,” Nickles said. “We found no signs forced entry and nothing was missing.”