She might not have had a choice. Before I had a gun, my alarm company called me. When I got home my garage and interior door were open. Still no police. I waited an hour. Finally, I went in with two big dogs a stick and my cell phone. Stupid, I know, but I was mad and had to get back to work. Everything was ok but the police still hadn't showed up by the time I left.
"...She should have called the police and let them go in an find him..."
Not everyone has cell phones. If not, you have to go in with the burglar and make your telephone call.
In which situation would you be better off: confronting him with your revolver or sitting down to make a call and wait for the police to arrive later?
Her granddaughter was in the house, was she supposed to abandon her there?
And before you say she should have abandoned the house, taking the granddaughter and the dogs with her, I'll just relate that she said she was Mad, that someone had invaded her home, not afraid. Many Texas Ladies have a different attitude about that sort of thing. She had a delightful rural Dallas area native accent, so I do think she's probably a native Texian.