Tucson: Armed homeowner repels four armed robbers

[seamusTX]

Tucson, February 9 -- Four armed men attempted to break into a home in Tucson. The homeowner responded by shooting at them within seconds of their arrival. They fled and are still at large. One may have been shot.

The homeowner had video cameras that recorded the incident.

Video: http://www.kvoa.com/global/video/flash/ ... D1=3430230" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No local print stories are available.

- Jim

[MD2595]

Wow, bet they pick another target next time......

Nice homie ride they were in...

[seamusTX]

Yeah, between the vehicle and the way the guys acted, it looked like gansta hip-hop video. I wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't on a legitimate web site.

- Jim

[heliguy972]

Homeowner must be into drugs or some other illegal stuff. You just don't get 4 guys storming into a garage in broad daylight with a HOT easily recognizable car and what looked like some version of AR15, just to rob the home theater system.

I hope they are seriously invistigating the homeowner..

Homeowner was a great shot. Tripple tap within a 6 inch circle under duress. I'm impressed!

[seamusTX]

It's possible the homeowner was involved in some kind of criminal activity, but there is no evidence of it. It He could be a gem dealer or in some such profession where he would have valuable goods. Perhaps rumors circulated that he kept piles of gold bullion under his bed. Things like that have happened.

It's also possible the car was stolen. Criminals frequently boost a car to use in a robbery, and then dump it minutes later.

- Jim

[kd5zex]

Looked like the one with the AR knew about the camera to me.

[kirock7]

Looked like the one with the AR knew about the camera to me.

I saw an interview on CNN with a Tucson local LEO and he said that there was some interest in the background of the home owner. I acknowledge that the guy might be deserving of criminal focus, but I'll be danged if having security cameras on your property makes you suspect.
If I was a bad guy... had targeted a jeweler or someone with a profitable home biz... I would check out their security before moving in... and security cameras are usually not hidden, but displayed prominently in hopes of deterring something like this. So I think you're right... the bad guy(s) may have very well been aware of the camera.
Surveillance videos are an intricate part of today's society and have proven to be a very useful tool in solving some crimes... I just find it hard to understand why so many think having a security system makes you somehow suspect of trying to hide something. It's just not necessarily true!
I would think most folks might be just trying to keep from being hapless victims.

I'm fascinated by this story and look forward to hearing more.

[Liberty]

Looked like the one with the AR knew about the camera to me.

I just find it hard to understand why so many think having a security system makes you somehow suspect of trying to hide something. It's just not necessarily true!
I would think most folks might be just trying to keep from being hapless victims.

I'm fascinated by this story and look forward to hearing more.

It is a shame, but its also pretty well known that druggies and gangsters tend to go after their own. This wasn't a normal breakin these were organized gangsters who were doing an assault on a house.

[kirock7]

This wasn't a normal breakin these were organized gangsters who were doing an assault on a house.

Fact? (Source?) or assumption?

[seamusTX]

Update: One of the four gangsters has been arrested. The man wounded in the incident is thought to be in Mexico:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/110049.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[A detective] thinks the would-be robbers were after cash, but he did not know why they expected to find money in the home.

I have to say, I am somewhat disappointed by the assumption that the defender in this case was involved in something shady.

If any of us ever has to use a weapon in self defense, that is exactly what many people are going to say: "Why did he have a gun? He must have been looking for trouble."

Criminals attack for any or no reason, including knowledge about a homeowner's wealth gained from working around the house (yard men, movers, etc.) or rumors.

- Jim

[ladromar]

Now who said an AR was not "A good choice" for home defense?

Awesome video!
A shame they were able to get away; also did you see one of the suspects was wielding what it appears to be an AR, they were "heavily" armed for what appears to be just a home invasion/robbery. And why does this guy need 4 surveillance cameras again?

[seamusTX]

I don't know. Why does anyone need three pistols, two shotguns, and four rifles? How about an SUV, a dog, or a 48-inch TV?

Maybe there's a lot of burglary in that area. Maybe the guy owns a valuable collection of artwork or coins. Maybe he installs security cameras for a living and wanted to create a model home. Maybe he's paranoid.

- Jim

[DoubleJ]

maybe he just cares about his family, and doesn't want anything to happen to them....

[kirock7]

<snipped> And why does this guy need 4 surveillance cameras again?

Okay, I have four cameras on and around my house. One at the front door, one over the driveway/garage, one at my back gate/bedroom window and one at my backdoor. I have several pistols stashed around the house in hidden locations and I own an assortment of rifles. Recently we've had a couple of burglaries in broad daylight on my street and that is why the surveillance system went in. One of the burglars even surprised a neighbor's kid who had just come home from school... luckily he had access to a golf club and came out swinging, forcing the actor (all dressed in black with his face hidden) to take off and jump into a parked car out front that immediately burned rubber out of the neighborhood.
I do not deal drugs or deal in stolen property. I don't have any really expensive stuff to speak of, but I do work at home with some equipment that might be valuable to some (trying to stay vague here)... kind of makes me sound like the fellow in Tucson doesn't it?
Why would I have four cameras? Figure it out.

[ladromar]

Alright point taken...

But still folks, what are the chances of having 4 gangsters rolling in hot and loaded storming your house?
Very little right?
UNLESS you are into some sketchy business or maybe art, gems or precious metal trading etc... or you could always have your regular neighborhood grandma selling heroin cheese to kids... who knows? who really knows? I'm just speculating here...

Point is high-risk business whether the enterprise may be legal or not require of extra security.
True; people are paranoid, sure your regular Joe may have 6 cameras around his house, but what are the chances of something like this happen to him? now compare Joe to your next door heroin-cheese dealer who's always "watching his 6" at all times.
Wouldn't you agree his line of work maybe a bit more risky than working a regular 9-5 thus; the extra security and interesting fellas visiting him on Sunday morning?

Bottom line, this guy's not just your average Joe with cameras around his house who just happen to be fixing his ride in the garage while 4 gangsters attempt to invade his castle.

There's more to the story I'm sure