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Natosha Derrick, Eric Paul Stillwell and Elizabeth Front are charged with burglary and theft of property.

(Jefferson County Jail)

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama - A man and two women are in jail after a Jefferson County homeowner spotted them as the trio that broke into his home - a burglary caught on video surveillance - and held them at gunpoint until lawmen arrived.

Chief Deputy Randy Christian gave this account of what happened: Just after 9:30 pm on Friday, deputies responded to a home in the 3600 block of Gobbler's Knob Road to investigate a report of a burglary. The victims told deputies someone had forced open a door to the home and stolen two televisions and Christmas gifts, including those for their 1-year-old son.

The residents told deputies the break-in was captured on the victims' home surveillance system. The video shows two men and a woman in a black Ford Ranger pickup truck. The trio got out of the truck and approached the home.

The female suspect knocked on the door. When she got no answer, one of the males kicked the door open and they went into the home. They can be seen loading the stolen items into the truck and leaving.

On Sunday, deputies responded to a report of a separate burglary in the 1600 block of New Bethel School Road. The victim in the Sunday case said someone had forced open a door to his home and taken a computer monitor, a trumpet, a knife collection and jewelry.

While deputies were on the scene investigating that burglary, the victim from the first burglary called the sheriff's office and reported that he had found the suspects who broke into his home and he was holding them at gunpoint.

The victim from the first burglary told deputies at he had seen the black Ford Ranger driving near his home and followed them. They turned down Gobbler's Knob Mine Road. He blocked them in and he and his friends held them at gunpoint until deputies could arrive.

When deputies arrived, they took two women and a man into custody. They also found items stolen during the New Bethel School Road burglary inside the truck. The victim of that burglary came to the scene and identified his property. It was returned to him.

Those arrested were: Eric Paul Stillwell, 38, of Quinton; Natosha Derrick, 29, of Jasper, and Elizabeth Frost, 28, of Burnwell. All three are charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree theft of property in connection with the Sunday break-in.

They are being held in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $25,000 each. Christian said more charges are expected from the initial burglary case.

"We would prefer they called us and followed the suspects at a safe distance to keep themselves out of harm's way, but all's well that ends well,'' Christian said. "That's nice work and these Good Samaritans no doubt saved others from some Christmas Grinch heartache. They are to be commended."