They Saw Three Teens Trying to Break Into Their Neighbor's House -- Then They Armed Themselves and Confronted the Crooks

When residents of an Alabama town spotted three teens trying to break into a neighbors house in the middle of the day, they of course contacted police...but they didn't just kick back and watch the action play out, either.

They armed themselves and confronted them.

With that, all three teens ran from the house on Mountain Laurel Drive in Pinson, but the neighbors chased them into nearby woods, according to AL.com. They managed to hold one, a 17-year-old, at gunpoint. Two others fled on foot but were captured more than a mile away on Highway 75.

Contrell Dreonte Howard (Image source: Jefferson County Jail)

The teen the neighbors detained was carrying a pistol, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian, and a set of keys belonging to the victim. It's not clear from the AL.com report how the suspect got the keys.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies were called in regard to the incident about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Pinson is about 20 minutes northeast of Birmingham.

The 17-year-old and another suspect, age 16, are charged with second-degree burglary and criminal mischief and placed into the custody of the Jefferson County Youth Detention Facility.

The adult, 19-year-old Contrell Dreonte Heard, is charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree marijuana possession. Authorities said he had marijuana on him when he was taken into custody. He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $6,000 bond.

"This is a great example of neighbors looking out for each other," Christian told AL.com, "because of that three criminals were caught. We love it when the good guys beat the bad guys."

(H/T: North Jefferson News)