A 10-year-old girl kept calm and called for help when an armed man broke into her home.
She was alone in the Buckingham Avenue house when he smashed a window to force entry about 5.30pm on Thursday 31 May.
Greater Dandenong CIU detectives said her family members were away for just a few minutes to pick up dinner.
The girl locked herself in a bedroom, called triple-zero and stayed on the phone with the call-taker until police arrived.
They arrested a 46-year-old Springvale man, who was allegedly in possession of a knife and screwdriver.
Police charged him with aggravated burglary, possessing a controlled weapon and bail offences.
He’s due to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 27 June.