Homeowner Defeats Burglar with Bear Spray, Shotgun

by
posted on April 23, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (9)

This story's really more of a fit over at "The Armed Citizen®" (and you may well see it over there soon enough), but, given the circumstances, I just couldn't leave it alone. According to reports, a Washington man was able to apprehend a young burglar earlier this week. Our protagonist's tools of the trade: bear mace and a trusty shotgun. According to KXLY, the unidentified homeowner heard noises in his garage in the middle of the night, and realized that someone must have broken in. Deciding it was time to act, the homeowner decided to utilize a solution typically reserved for larger, wilder dangers: bear mace. He allegedly emptied the entire can into the garage.As you might expect, the tactic worked. The late-night raiders broke a garage window and made an effort to flee the scene. It was then that one of them ran into the homeowner, who was now waiting in the front yard with a shotgun. According to KREM, the suspect-in-question was wielding a machete and approached the homeowner, but dropped the blade and surrendered after being granted a warning shot.The 17-year-old machete-wielding perp was taken into custody by the authorities, and an alleged 19-year-old accomplice was arrested later on. Police are still searching for an alleged third suspect.Check out the full KXLY report in the video embedded below.

Latest

Colorado Flag
Colorado Flag

Colorado Voters Reject Right to Hunt and Fish Measure

On November 3, Colorado voters rejected Amendment 83, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have designated hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing the state’s fish and wildlife populations. To pass, the amendment needed 55 percent of the vote or more. It fell about 10 percentage points short of that minimum.

The 8mm Mauser Family

The 8x57mm, also known as the 8x57 JS, the 7.92x57mm Mauser or the 8mm Mauser, has been with us since 1888, and has directly—or indirectly—brought us a wide array of cartridges which we hold dear. Let's take a closer look at that array.

2026 Federal Duck Stamp Winner Announced: A Synergy of Art and Conservation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in late September that Robert Hautman of Delano, Minn., won the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck pair (seen above at the official ceremony).

5 Keys To Make This Your Best Upland Season Ever

Tired of walking long distances and coming home empty-handed? Here are five keys to help boost your bag of birds this year.

C&H Precision and MERUS Adventure Launch Guided Hunt Giveaway

Free entry runs through Nov. 13, 2026, and one winner and a guest will be heading to the Texas Panhandle for a fully guided hunt at MERUS Adventure—a private hunting and off-road park near Claude, Texas, outside Amarillo. The trip includes a fully guided hunt, range time with top-tier optics and gear, on-site lodging for the length of the stay and off-road driving across the property.

Things I’ve Learned About Public-Land Elk

Every generation has a story starting with, “I remember the good old days.” Elk hunters have a similar dialogue and although elk numbers are at some of their highest in modern history, public-land hunting still represents a sea of challenges. With decades of elk hunting in my rearview and an ongoing education, a few lessons I’ve learned from elk hunting may aid you in your public-land elk pursuits.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.