Fayette | News

Homeowner tackles burglar

Tue, 05/30/2006 - 3:37pm
By: John Munford

Homeowner tackles burglar

After spotting a burglar in his garage early Sunday evening, a Peachtree City man tackled the suspect as he tried to escape on foot moments before officers arrived on the scene in the Coventry subdivision, police said.

Stephen Mitchell was going out to his garage for a smoke break at his Retreat Point home when he spotted the burglar in his wife’s minivan, said Police Chief James Murray. The couple called police, but the suspect bolted after hearing the sirens of approaching patrol cars, Murray said.

Mitchell chased the suspect and subdued him, Murray said.

“The guy tackled him in the front yard as officers were pulling up,” Murray said.

The suspect, Nicholas Cooper, 27, of Wynnmeade Parkway, Peachtree City, was charged with burglary, two counts of entering an auto and one count of obstruction of a police officer.

Cooper had been out on bond for previous charges of entering an auto, Murray noted.

Police said Mitchell startled Cooper and questioned him before he fled on foot; Cooper replied that he was “looking for someone,” police said. Mitchell noticed that the door was ajar to a second vehicle in the garage and he then told the suspect to sit down, police said.

Police are investigating if Cooper is responsible for numerous similar incidents in the city, and additional charges are anticipated. The city had a spate of incidents in the past two months where valuables were taken from parked automobiles in city subdivisions.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 770-631-2510. Callers may remain anonymous.

login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Our Police are the Best!
Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 7:51am.

The response time by our police force is the best. Thank you Chief Murray. I hope you can keep up with all of the uncontrolled growth. The only reason I moved to Peachtree City was for the cart paths, and so I would not have to buy a gun to be safe in my own home.

How many other people feel they need a gun to feel safe here? Times are changing and not for the better.

login to post comments
I always like to have a gun. Period.
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 8:26am.

If I was the only person on the Continent of Australia, I would be uncomfortable without a gun nearby.

But back to your point, the town of Peachtree City is as safe as we citizens make it.

login to post comments
Lock Your Doors!
Submitted by RubyBegonia on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 12:36pm.

Sad to think, but so true, that you can not be in the comfort of your home and surroundings without some scum bag criminal on your property robbing you! Dang! Makes me so mad. The oldest cover line in the book is that they are "looking for someone" when caught or approached.

I lock my doors even when I am out in my yard. Our automobile doors are always locked, whether sitting in the drive way or in the garage. It just isn't safe anymore, even in the privacy of your home.

login to post comments
I rarely lock my doors.
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 8:27am.

If they want in, they will get in. If they get in my house, that's when the trouble will start, for the criminal.

login to post comments
I Lock My Doors
PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 12:26pm.

Makes it harder for them to get in. And usually noisier.

And inside I believe a Mossberg home protection pistol grip shotgun with number 5 to 10 shot makes a persuasive argument.
-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


login to post comments
re:Burglar
Submitted by dkinser on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 10:02am.

And the question screams to be asked, why was this person out on bond and if he was a suspect in other automotive break-ins, why wasn't his bond pulled?

The good news is that he goes back to jail, for how long remains to be seen; and that the homeowner wasn't hurt in the confrontation.

Good job on the police department for responding but next time kill the sirens earlier so that the homeowner doesn't have to get physically involved.

Now for the prosecuting attorney and judge. Keep his sorry butt in jail this time.

Dana Kinser

login to post comments
Homeowner Tackles Burglar
Submitted by merrilyn on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 9:28am.

The residents of Wynnmeade know Nicholas Cooper well. Over the past few months,we believe that he has been responsible for thefts in our community. This time we hope that he will spend time in prison (where he should hsve been) for a long time, never to return to Wynnmeade.

We are happy that he was caught.

login to post comments
Free Speech
Submitted by Zath_Is_Back on Sat, 06/03/2006 - 6:40pm.

Awwww, two of my posts deleted.

Now I must delete 2 of yours Sticking out tongue

Zath

login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.