Tracy, California

From the Stockton Record of August 6, 2007

Man holds fleeing burglary suspect at gunpoint

A man held a 17-year-old suspected burglar at gunpoint Friday morning while his wife called 911, police said.

The incident began when two juveniles tried to break into a home in the 1300 block of Dixon Court around 3 a.m. Friday, said Tracy city spokesman Matt Robinson. The home’s burglar alarm, however, scared the teens off. They ran down the street and hopped a fence into the backyard of a home in the 1200 block of Berg Road.

The juveniles didn’t get very far when a resident at that home stepped into his backyard and trained a shotgun on them. One suspect fled back over the fence. The other remained there until police came, Robinson said.

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy from Tracy and turned him over to his parents. The case will be sent to juvenile prosecutors for investigation and possible charges. Police are still searching for the other suspect, Robinson said.

“We do commend the homeowner for holding onto the subject and protecting his property, but we do want to warn residents it can be very dangerous and they have to be very careful,” Robinson said.