It Only Took One Warning Shot for These Suspected Crooks to Rethink Their Plan

In broad daylight Tuesday, a group of people allegedly broke into Ira and Peggy Roberts' backyard cottage where their grandson lives in Oak Hill, Fla.

The group took off when confronted. But Ira Roberts had a gun, and his neighbors jumped into action.

"I said, 'Who are you and what are you doing out here and what do you want?'" Peggy Roberts told WKMG-TV.

"Legally, you can't shoot them when they're running away, so I pumped one into the ground, which was a good thing (because) it alerted all my neighbors," Ira told the news station.

This burglary suspect was one of five arrested for allegedly breaking into an Oak Hill, Fla., family's home. The suspect was tackled to the ground by a neighbor who later took this photo while he was being treated. (Image source: WKMG-TV)

That's when neighbor Beverly Rose stepped in, hearing the alarming gunshot and seeing someone running.

"When I got him and I tackled him, I put him in like a full nelson so he couldn't reach (for a possible gun)," Rose, a former boxer and football coach, said. "I could have tackled him on the grass to be honest with you, but I wanted him on the asphalt."

Another suspect who fled the scene was later caught in the woods by a K-9 unit. (Image source: WKMG-TV)

Watch WKMG-TV's report:

Five suspects were arrested in the incident, the last of which was apprehended Wednesday morning. They allegedly tried to steal a safe but left it in the road when Roberts scared them off, according to WKMG.

A sign in the neighborhood could have served as a warning for the burglary suspects that neighbors were ready to watch out for each other. (Image source: WKMG-TV)

No one was injured by the shot fired into the ground, but two suspects were treated at the hospital for other injuries and later were released.

--

[related]