CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A Coral Gables homeowner helped police capture a would-be burglar Wednesday when he shot the left-front tire of the suspect's van, authorities said.
The victim said he heard loud banging shortly before 7 a.m. on the front door of his home on Granada Boulevard.
When he looked out the window, he saw a man, identified as Eliades Serrano-Alvarez, 24, running back to a gray Honda van that was parked in his driveway.
Police said Alvarez opened the back door of the van and removed an object before running toward the north side of the home.
The victim grabbed his handgun and heard several loud bangs coming from the north side of his home, an arrest report said.
Police said the victim walked outside and confronted Alvarez near the front porch.
Police said Alvarez threw a tire iron at the victim, but missed and jumped into the van.
The victim said he fired one round at the van, striking the left-front tire and causing it to go flat.
Police said Alvarez drove north on Granada Boulevard and was stopped by police in the 800 block of Sevilla Avenue.
Police said he was wearing only blue underwear and was holding car keys, sunglasses and a cellphone.
Officers took Alvarez back to the victim's home, where the victim positively identified him to officers.
Police said the victim discovered after Alvarez drove away that a left-rear window to his truck had been smashed.
No property was taken from the vehicle.
Alvarez was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and burglary.