A customer at a Southeast Portland auto shop subdued a would-be burglar at gunpoint Wednesday morning, tackling the man and pinning him to the ground before the thief escaped, KOIN reported.

The whole debacle was caught on video surveillance cameras at Superior Soobie & Import on SE McLoughlin Boulevard.

Around 3 a.m., the customer, who had taken his car to the shop for service, got a notification on his phone that someone was tampering with his vehicle. He lived nearby, KOIN reported, so he went over to see what was going on.

Surveillance footage shows the customer, who was not identified, approaching his car with a flashlight. One of the rear windows is shattered and, once the customer realizes someone is in the vehicle, he draws a handgun and the burglar emerges with his hands up.

The burglar tries to run, the video shows, and the customer grabs him and puts him in a chokehold as the suspect swings at him with what appears to be a screwdriver. The customer eventually slams the man to the ground and pins his arms behind his back.

The customer holds the man there, but he explained to KOIN that the suspect was bleeding and he was concerned about coming into contact with the blood. With his hands full trying to keep the man pinned down, the customer was unable to call police so he eventually let the man go.

Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, but no arrests were made, KOIN reported.

The owner of the auto shop, Rick Cropper, said surveillance footage showed a black Chevy Blazer circling the lot prior to the break in. He told KOIN he is offering a $500 reward for information about the Blazer that leads to an arrest.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

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