Elderly Man Holds Burglar Captive for Hours

[ELB]

http://www.rgj.com/article/20110822/NEW ... nt-8-hours" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You need to go to the link just for the mug shots. Loughner has a cousin in Florida.

Synopsis: Three guys break into 72 y.o. man's house at 0300. Homeowner confronts them in hallway with a gun (which he apparently obtained after a previous burglary), shoots and wounds one of them, who then flees with one of the others; the third stayed put and grabbed a knife at some point. (The wounded one was found walking along a road and told police he had been a victim of a random shooting).

The homeowner then holds the third burglar hostage for the next eight or so hours -- because he does not have a phone.

About halfway thru, the burglar hits the homeowner's gun hand with a cane; the homeowner said this caused him to accidently fire the gun, which wounds the burglar in the wrist.

Another four hours pass (to approximately noon), and finally the homeowner forces the burglar outside and has a neighbor call police.

The two wounded ones will be charged; the unwounded one is still loose. The police found a trail of stolen items from the house to the point where the first wounded burglar was found by a taxi driver.

[Beiruty]

Bang Bang Bang

[AEA]

[Oldgringo]

I'm not yet 72 but if they'd broke into my house, I'd ask them to step off of the carpet and onto the hard tile. At that time, I'd blow them to smithereens with my SA 1911 Compact "eargesplitten loudenboomer" and then call 911 for help.

Elderly people should be treated with respect.

[Rikk101]

I'd a shot those guys just for bein' so damn ugly!

[Keith B]

I'd a shot those guys just for bein' so darn ugly!

You know what they say, Beauty is only skin deep...But ugly goes clear to the bone.

[ELB]

I just hope somebody gets the old guy a cell phone (after he replenishes his ammo). One of those pay-ahead ones, that he can keep just for emergencies.

[OldCurlyWolf]

I just hope somebody gets the old guy a cell phone (after he replenishes his ammo). One of those pay-ahead ones, that he can keep just for emergencies.

Any cell phone that will turn on will dial 911. The phone companies have to put it through whether the phone is activated or not. If it will turn on and send a signal it will work. I have an old phone and charger I would give him. I recently gave an old one to a women's Shelter.

[Jumping Frog]

Any cell phone that will turn on will dial 911. The phone companies have to put it through whether the phone is activated or not. If it will turn on and send a signal it will work. I have an old phone and charger I would give him. I recently gave an old one to a women's Shelter.

That is true as long as it is still not too old. The really old analog phones no longer work as the wireless networks have all been upgraded to digital.

[RPB]

There are organizations which collect old used cell phones (Boys and Girls clubs etc) and donate them to places which other people can get a free/cheap used unactivated "911 phone" so they don't fill up the landfills

Many have E-911 an electronic GPS 911 signal; (A guy fell from a cliff in/near Austin and the GPS signal let EMS find him, because there wasn't a way to accurately describe by which rock/cliff they should go to) I carry an old 2003 unactivated phone with the E-911 (made in 2003) just for E-911 service when out fishing kayaking in the middle of a huge lake or out in the woods, driving back roads out in the country and even on trips to the city where I might not know street names.

So, I finally gave in to that modern newfangled technology portable cell phone thing ...I'm still not getting a Facebook page.

(Apparently, there may be a way to get them programmed to charge a credit card if you actually need to call someone too, like if stuck on a freeway on the way to a relative's, you may be able to call and pay $3.00 for that call once every so many years that that occasion might come up when you need to call someone besides 911 ... that's still cheaper than some monthly charge... I think it depends on the provider and I think it has to be programmed to do that and/or some advance agreement reached)

I"m thinking I'll finally get a Ham radio license I been thinkin' about for 40 years and use the thing where they can patch phone calls through too, just in case; could be handy. (But then I'll have a new obsession, and I already have about $10,000 in receive only radios and equipment)

Back on topic; 911 phones are free. (or really cheap)

[ELB]

I just hope somebody gets the old guy a cell phone (after he replenishes his ammo). One of those pay-ahead ones, that he can keep just for emergencies.

Any cell phone that will turn on will dial 911. ...

I forgot about that. I'd send him my old phone, except I still use my old phone. I got so tired of the expensive upgrade-or-sign-a-two-year-contract rigamorole, especially since i am kind of rough on phones, that I bought two Nokias on ebay for $11 a couple year ago and the wife and I still use them. Mine has all the numbers worn off, most of the case coloring is worn off also, and a piece of the case missing, but it still makes phone calls and texts when I absolutely must text, so it's still good.

So hope someone else gives him a phone.