Homeowner stops break-in thief who happened to be wanted for arson

Many of us have security video around our homes. More important was the recent case where the homeowner paid attention to the video.

A female homeowner in Vancouver, Washington, noticed the security alarm about 9 p.m. recently. This thief had a very busy and destructive evening.

The female homeowner noticed that a stranger had entered her home, and she saw him take an expensive bicycle. She chased after the thief, who turned and threatened her with a knife. The homeowner drew her gun and told the thief to get down on the ground. He complied.

Some news stories say that other neighbors were present at this time. It isn’t clear who called police or when that call was made.

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Police arrested 31-year-old Josue Paredes Merino. Videos show him riding a bicycle and setting three fires that afternoon. One of the fires destroyed a retail furniture business. Fortunately, the people inside the store were able to escape the building when the fire alarms sounded. That fire spread and also destroyed nearby train cars that were owned by a nonprofit railroad association. They gave train rides along the valley on the weekends.

Oddly, a man of the same age and name as Merino has a prior conviction for possession of a stolen vehicle. Merino is now charged with reckless burning, first-degree arson, and second-degree theft. He was being held in jail in lieu of paying a $750,000 bond.

There is a lot we don’t know. There is a lot we’d like to know before we chase a criminal from our property. That is particularly true, and particularly difficult at night. We’d like to know how many criminals are outside our home. We’d like to know how they are armed. If we leave our home, are we leaving our family undefended, or do other family members have a firearm of their own for self-defense?

The fleeing criminal threatened this homeowner with his knife. Thank goodness she had a gun.

In this case the defender presented her firearm and did not press the trigger. The thief decided he would rather not charge a drawn gun. That happens most of the time. If the victim is armed, most of the time, the thief decides to find another victim. That is important.

Firearms instructors remind us to practice presenting our firearm from our holster. Sometimes we practice pressing the trigger. We should also practice not pressing the trigger. We need both actions to be a reliable habit. So is the decision of which to use.

Rob Morse writes about gun rights at his SlowFacts blog and hosts the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society podcast.