Alert citizens help police catch thief. (The Goodness of America).(Brief Article)

At around 8:20 a.m. on March 4th, 12-year-old Chris Ebbers was about to leave home to catch his school bus when the lanky Elk Grove, California, seventh-grader heard some strange noises from the attached garage. Before he could investigate, however, a man initially claiming to be a repairman entered the house. But when he asked young Ebbers if his dad had a safe, and ordered the boy to wait in the bathroom, Chris knew that the intruder planned to "steal stuff."

As the thief searched for valuables and began cleaning out a gun cabinet, Chris snuck out the front door and ran to the home of neighbor John Jenkins. Jenkins was working at his computer when Chris, whom Jenkins described as "cool and calm," knocked on the door and explained what was happening. After calling 911, Jenkins noticed the thief walking down the street with a duffel bag later found loaded with guns and other valuables. Jenkins jumped into his car and began trailing the man. Apparently aware that he was being followed, the thief eventually dropped the bag, fled through a park, and jumped several fences.

The Sacramento County sheriff's department provides police services for Elk Grove. When deputies arrived, they released a police dog ...