MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — A South Florida homeowner said he took matters into his own hands to protect his family when he noticed an alleged trespasser outside his home.

After the birth of his first child, Miami Beach resident Gabriel Ruz had a state-of-the-art surveillance system installed outside of his home with a sensor on the garage door.

Monday night that exact sensor alerted him and his family to an intruder on their property. Ruz, who also purchased a handgun after the birth of his child, armed himself and confronted the intruder. “I have the gun with the laser sight,” Ruz said. “I said, ‘Freeze, get on the ground.'”

The suspect was identified by Miami-Dade Police as Lucas Queiroz. Queiroz was in the driveway when he was caught by surprise and confronted by Ruz.

Queiroz was charged with trespassing. Authorities also found Queiroz with marijuana. “He even told cops on the scene that he smokes marijuana and mushrooms,” Sgt. Bobby Hernandez of the Miami Beach Police said.

“I was extremely scared but for him,” Ruz’s wife said. “He would do anything to protect us, and even though I was concerned about him getting a gun, I’m happy now that he did.”

Police, however, advise homeowners to never take the law into their own hands and call 911.

“We don’t suggest that you approach somebody that you don’t know or you don’t even know what their physical capabilities are with a gun,” Hernandez said. “Because now you’re bringing a gun to the scene.”

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