Incredible moment an elderly couple turned the tables on a burglar and held him at gunpoint after catching him loading their belongings into a stolen SUV

  • Aaron Lujan, 26, was released from jail on Thursday, but hours later, was caught loading stolen items into a stolen car in Albuquerque
  • A 70-year-old man spotted Lujan putting his belongings into the vehicle 
  • He tried to talk to the suspect, but was ignored, so both he and his wife, 66, armed themselves and held Lujan at gunpoint until authorities arrived 
  • Police body camera footage shows the moment officers arrived at the scene to find the suspect cowering on the ground near the car

By Khaleda Rahman For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:49 EST, 22 November 2015 | Updated: 20:38 EST, 22 November 2015

A burglar got more than he bargained for when an elderly couple caught him loading their belongings into a car – and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

Officers arriving at the scene, in the 1600 block of Lafayette NE Street in Albuquerque, found a 70-year-old man and his wife, 66, pointing their guns at Aaron Lujan.

The 26-year-old was released from jail on Thursday – but later that same day, he was caught loading the stolen items into a stolen SUV.

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A burglar got more than he bargained for when an elderly couple caught him loading their belongings into a car – and held him at gunpoint until police arrived

A burglar got more than he bargained for when an elderly couple caught him loading their belongings into a car – and held him at gunpoint until police arrived

Officers arriving at the scene on Thursday found a 70-year-old man and his wife, 66, pointing their guns at Aaron Lujan (pictured, in police body camera footage)
Officers arriving at the scene on Thursday found a 70-year-old man and his wife, 66, pointing their guns at Aaron Lujan (pictured, in police body camera footage)

Officers arriving at the scene on Thursday found a 70-year-old man and his wife, 66, pointing their guns at Aaron Lujan (pictured, in police body camera footage)

Albuquerque police spokesman Tanner Tixier says officers were called about a possible burglary.

They arrived minutes later to find the elderly couple both pointing their weapons at Lujan.

Police body camera footage shows the moment officers arrived at the scene to find the suspect cowering on the ground near the vehicle before lying face down as an officer handcuffs him.

Tixier says the husband had observed Lujan putting a generator, power tools and other items of his into a vehicle.

The 26-year-old (pictured) was released from jail on Thursday – but later that same day, he was caught loading stolen items into a stolen SUV

The 26-year-old (pictured) was released from jail on Thursday – but later that same day, he was caught loading stolen items into a stolen SUV

The husband, 70, said he had confronted Lujan, but was ignored, so he grabbed his shotgun while his wife took a handgun and both held Lujan at gunpoint until authorities arrived

The husband, 70, said he had confronted Lujan, but was ignored, so he grabbed his shotgun while his wife took a handgun and both held Lujan at gunpoint until authorities arrived

The man says he confronted Lujan in the street outside his home, but was ignored.

The husband then grabbed his shotgun while his wife took a handgun and both held Lujan at gunpoint until authorities arrived.  

Aaron Lujan (pictured) had been released from jail hours before the incident on Thursday

Aaron Lujan (pictured) had been released from jail hours before the incident on Thursday

Trixier told KRQE: 'The old man goes inside his house arms himself with a shotgun, tells his wife what is happening and she arms herself with a handgun.'

However, no one was injured in the incident. 

And Ron Paneboeuf, a friend of the couple, said he’s not surprised at all by their actions.

‘It doesn’t surprise me at all that she would be willing to confront somebody that is doing wrong,’ he told KRQE.

Police did not say what charges Lujan will now face or if he has an attorney.

Court records show that he had left jail hours before the incident on a burglary charge.

Tixier told the news station that if the couple had not taken action, Lujan would likely would still remain at large. 

However, police urge people not to go after thieves with weapons unless there is a direct threat to a person’s safety.

Instead, they should report the incident to police and wait for officers to arrive. 

 

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