FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A burglar made off with loot that includes jewelry, cameras, and a pitcher filled with iced tea from a Fresno apartment, but he didn't get away because a fearless neighbor went after him, then helped lead police right to the crook.
Sylvia Burt's apartment in Central Fresno is the home that was broken into.
She says she's grateful her neighbor Shane, who's also a disabled vet, sprung into action.
"Shane was asking him, what are you doing? He says I'm helping my aunt Rosalyn move. And Shane said like hell you are," said Sylvia.
"He was fast, and looked like he was on a mission," said Ed Pacheco, who lives in the apartment complex and watched the chase.
Although Shane lost the burglar after he hopped a fence, he quickly called 9-1-1 and was able to get police to the scene quickly.
Officers found the thief hiding in the area and arrested him.
Sylvia was able to get back most of the things that were stolen, including jewelry, and expensive cameras.
But it seems it wasn't just valuables the thief was after, Sylvia says he went into her refrigerator, took a pitcher filled with iced tea, and a Heath candy bar.
Not only that, she says he picked out clothes in the closet, stealing socks and underwear.
Sylvia says she is taking precautions, and bought an iron gate, and is adding a second deadbolt to her front door.
But she says the best home security - is a proactive neighbor.
"Shane is an awesome person, I mean to have a neighbor who would stick their neck out like he did today," said Sylvia.
Another thing that helped catch the crook - a non-uniformed officer on patrol duty, an assignment Chief Dyer started last month.
An officer who wouldn't normally be on the streets, arrested the thief.
