A Pasadena home in California became the scene of a home intrusion on the night of Friday, August 14. However, the burglars had no idea that the homeowners were inside and ready to fight for the place they’ve called home for 30 years.
According to footage obtained by ABC7, the burglars walked onto the property pretty nonchalantly, thinking it would be an easy job for them. Even though lights went off and voice recordings repeatedly told the intruders to leave, they pushed on.
Fortunately, the homeowner didn’t just wait for his alarms to scare off the intruders. He went outside himself and yelled out, leading all four masked suspects to run away to the getaway car and driver they had in front of the home.
Even though the homeowner was brave in changing those burglars’ minds, he still has some advice for those living in the area and those who might be planning sting operations of their own.
California Burglars Walk Past Lights, Cameras, and Warnings Before Homeowner Chases Them Off
The video shows four men exiting a vehicle that appears to be parked outside the home, with a fifth suspect in the driver’s seat. You can quite literally see the four men walking directly into the backyard, ignoring all the telling signs that someone was home.
The homeowner and his wife have been living in the area for 30 years, and he was even quoted as saying, “We raised two kids here. We’ve been here for 27 years. We were married in the area. We love Pasadena, and I think Pasadena loves us.”
When the burglars arrive at about 11:15 pm, they immediately walk through the backyard as motion sensor lights go off. At one point, the security camera can be heard quite literally saying, “Hey, you are being recorded. People walking on the pathway, please leave if you are not allowed to be here.”
They decided to still press on.
Eventually, an alarm goes off, and the homeowner actually steps out to confront the would-be thieves. This is ultimately what scares them away, forcing them to scurry back to their getaway car.
Unfortunately, the thieves were still able to leave with something pretty valuable.
Burglars Leave Empty-Handed but Still Take Something Valuable
Sure, the homeowners didn’t get robbed, but after nearly 30 years of living in the same place without an incident, I can imagine that something like this shakes you up. The homeowners reported that their peace of mind has been taken.
Apparently, due to the Eaton Fire, many homes in this neighborhood are vacant or still being rebuilt. This is likely why the suspects genuinely believed that they wouldn’t get caught red-handed.
The intruders are still at large, so the homeowners did not want to reveal their exact addresses or names. However, they’re adamant that, as a community, they can bring back the peace.
Comments Urge Homeowner To Step up Security After Break-in Attempt
The video quickly sparked a wave of reactions from viewers, many of whom focused on how the homeowner could better protect the property if the group returns. Several commenters suggested stronger fencing, guard dogs, alarms, cameras, and other deterrents, while others simply said the incident showed why homeowners need to take security seriously.
A large portion of the discussion also centered on firearms and self-defense. Some commenters argued that the homeowner should be armed, while others went much further and called for violent retaliation against anyone attempting to break in. The overall tone made it clear that many viewers believed the situation could have ended much worse if the intruders had made it inside.
Others questioned whether the group would try again, with one commenter warning, “They’ll be back,” while another said the suspects appeared determined enough that the homeowner should expect another attempt. A few viewers also pushed back on wording that suggested the group was trying to “sneak” into the home, arguing that the footage looked more like an outright break-in attempt.