JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama - Residents of a Pinson neighborhood took law enforcement matters into their own hands, holding a burglary suspect at gunpoint until lawmen could arrive.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies were called about 3:30 p.m. Thursday to a home in the 7400 block of Mountain Laurel Drive. Neighbors had seen three men trying to break into the home, and confronted them.

All three ran away, but neighbors chased them into nearby woods. They managed to hold one of them, a 17-year-old, at gunpoint. Two others fled on foot but were captured more than a mile away on Highway 75.

The detained teen was carrying a pistol, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian, and also was found to have a set of keys belonging to the victim. Deputies quickly caught the other two suspects nearby and took them into custody.

The 17-year-old and another suspect, age 16, are charged with second-degree burglary and criminal mischief. They were put in the custody of the Jefferson County Youth Detention Facility.

The adult, 19-year-old Contrell Dreonte Heard, is charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree marijuana possession. Authorities said he had marijuana on him when he was taken into custody. He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $6,000 bond.

"This is a great example of neighbors looking out for each other," Christian said, "because of that three criminals were caught. We love it when the good guys beat the bad guys."