On January 21, at 10:00 a.m., upon hearing loud, repetitive knocking at her front door, a Torrey Highlands resident looked through the peephole and saw a man outside. She assumed the person might be a solicitor and decided not to answer the door or talk to him. Moments later, the woman spotted the would-be burglar on the side of her home, attempting to break in. She confronted the man, snapping photos of him with her camera. He ran past her, dropping a chisel in the process, and quickly fled to a waiting vehicle with another man in it.
Undaunted, the resident stood by the side of the street and continued to take photographs of the suspect. At this point, the driver jumped out of the car and confronted the resident, grabbing her camera and knocking her to the ground. Both men then fled the scene, taking the victim's camera with them.
According to Gaylon Sells, community relations officer with the SDPD Northwestern Division, "If you decide to take photographs of the suspect, which is always helpful for the police, please do so from a point of safety. Never place yourself in a position where the criminal can get to you."
On January 21, at 10:00 a.m., upon hearing loud, repetitive knocking at her front door, a Torrey Highlands resident looked through the peephole and saw a man outside. She assumed the person might be a solicitor and decided not to answer the door or talk to him. Moments later, the woman spotted the would-be burglar on the side of her home, attempting to break in. She confronted the man, snapping photos of him with her camera. He ran past her, dropping a chisel in the process, and quickly fled to a waiting vehicle with another man in it.
Undaunted, the resident stood by the side of the street and continued to take photographs of the suspect. At this point, the driver jumped out of the car and confronted the resident, grabbing her camera and knocking her to the ground. Both men then fled the scene, taking the victim's camera with them.
According to Gaylon Sells, community relations officer with the SDPD Northwestern Division, "If you decide to take photographs of the suspect, which is always helpful for the police, please do so from a point of safety. Never place yourself in a position where the criminal can get to you."
Comments
About three years ago, I too was at home (Miramar Ranch North) at about 9:30 in the morning when there was a knock at my door. From upstairs, I watched a young Asian man walk across my driveway and over to the side of my house and I knew what he was about to do. An unfamiliar SUV was parked out front. I ran downstairs; out my back door; around the side of the house and repeated "excuse me" in a firm but calm tone as I walked toward him. He stood there frozen with a crowbar in his hand. I calmly and quietly asked him "What are you doing?" twice. He never responded and wouldn't look up. Because I grew up in a "Barrio" in Los Angeles, I was not afraid to confront him (I am 58, 4'11", 160lbs and female) but I knew not to antagonize him, disrespect him or threaten him. He then jumped the gate and ran over to the car waiting out front. I called in the plate number to the police. SDPD told me the car had been stolen in RP and that the burglar had tried to break into three more homes after mine. The car was abandoned at a high school and they were not caught. At the time, Scripps-Miramar Ranch North only had one patrol car. I wouldn't recommend confronting burglars but the police don't have the resources to protect us from these bold thieves. I won't ever have one but I understand why people own guns and big dogs.