A Redding man who saw a prowler next to his neighbor's vehicles on Saturday morning drew a firearm after the prowler pretended to have a gun of his own.

The incident began about 8:30 a.m. when a family living off Elizabeth Way in west Redding saw a man checking out vehicles, the Redding Police Department said.

The neighbors went outside and yelled at the man, later identified as Jordan Ericsson, 27, of Redding, police said.

Ericsson removed what appeared to be a firearm from his waistband and walked toward the people who were yelling at him.

One of the family members holds a concealed weapon permit and in turn pointed his gun at Ericsson, who ran away.

Police arrived with K-9 Otto and found Ericsson hiding in a yard. Ericsson promptly surrendered.

Police said they searched the man and found a blue lighter with a pistol-like grip, but no gun. Ericsson told police he had used his cell phone to imitate a gun.

He also admitted to checking door handles in the neighborhood and taking a purse from one unlocked vehicle somewhere else, police said.

Police also found Ericsson with burglary tools and heroin. He was arrested on suspicion of prowling. Police also said he was on probation out of Shasta County for burglary.

"While we always encourage neighbors to be on the lookout in their neighborhood, please be careful in confronting persons who you suspect are committing crimes as they may be armed. We always encourage you to move to safety and call 911," police said in their press release.