WARMINGTON: Armed home invader met his match when Oakville resident did a citizen's arrest

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OAKVILLE – This citizen’s arrest of an alleged home invader by a resident who was shot at inside his own castle was so efficient even the chief of police was impressed.

“I am thankful for the actions of our citizens and of our service members in this case and in so many cases where it takes all of us working together to bring these types of idiotic criminals to justice,” Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner said Thursday.

Credit given to where credit is due.

This was the very definition of great community policing – by members of the community. Home invaders might want to choose a different house, and town, to do their thievery because they are having no luck at this mansion.

When they smashed a window and tried to break in at 4 a.m. Thursday, the owners had seen this movie before.

“We had the same thing happen on May 27th and the police caught them quickly,” said the resident. “So, we were not as shocked this time. We understood what was happening.”

So, as four men started looking through the house for car keys and other valuables, the adults in this home decided enough was enough.

“We got our baseball bats and tried to chase them out,” one resident said in an interview.

Criminals are not used to people fighting back. But people are getting tired of being sitting ducks. And in this case, one resident tackled one of the intruders, as evidenced from the smashed door frame, knocked over furniture and blood on the wall from what was a wild battle.

But it got worse.

“One of the guys came back and fired a shot that just missed me by a foot-and-a-half,” said the man.

Police marked the shot where the bullet was still lodged in the wall. There was also shattered glass all over, damaged doorframes and overturned furniture.

After the shooting, the suspects scurried away like rats – except the one guy the owner was originally fighting with.

“He ran to the lower part of the house and got lost and couldn’t find a door,” said the resident.

They tackled him and held him down until police officers arrived.

“I played some rugby,” joked the resident.

There was no way he and the other adults in the home were going to let him go. This could have been a murder.

First carjackers met Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his security detail and now home invaders ran into the king of his castle. Both times the alleged bad guys ended up in handcuffs.

The Premier floated the idea of Ontario having a protecting one’s “castle law” like they have in Florida – which means if you break into someone’s house that they can defend it to the death.

“It’s out of control,” said the man. “We should be allowed to have the equipment to protect ourselves.”

If people keep getting hunted in their homes, those laws could be coming.

Chief Tanner said he’s “appalled by the criminal activity of many, who are committing home invasion-type robberies, and thefts victimizing innocent citizens.” And like Ford, he believes the court has to step up.

“I hope there will be serious and severe consequences when they are brought to court,” said Tanner. “These types of crimes must be punished with substantial sentences and everything that can be done as a deterrent.”

He’s so right.

It’s still unknown if the May 27 attempt is related but police are investigating. All four suspects in the first incident are believed to have been granted bail. But whether they were the same or different people, residents who have a nice home and expensive cars, or citizens of any walk of life, should not have to face being shot at in their homes.

“It’s becoming a lawless society,” Ford said after his incident, while calling on the federal government for bail reform that will see violent criminals not gain easy release but instead sit in the can until their trials.

As Halton cops look for other suspects, including the alleged shooter, they announced Trevaughn Walker, 20, of North York, “has been charged with robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent.” He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton. The charges against the accused have not been tested in court.

Former Toronto cop and Conservative candidate for Oakville East Ron Chhinzer praised the Oakville resident’s bravery and the quick action of police, saying revolving door justice is just not working.

Meanwhile, police are also looking two or perhaps more other alleged accomplices and are appealing for security video from the area in case anybody has footage of them or a dark sedan that fled from the area.

Chief Tanner fully intends to catch them.

“These people should not be out on bail to offend again; they should be held in custody and face long sentences once convicted,” he said.

One thing for sure, now zero for two, home invaders may not try this home again.

jwarmington@postmedia.com