Homeowner fights off burglar with garden shears

SEATTLE — A burglar was injured Thursday after a homeowner caught the man trying to break into his home and beat him with his fists and a pair of garden shears.

The homeowner called 911 around 3 p.m. Thursday after he spotted the suspect pull up to his street in a Toyota. He watched as the suspect forced his way into the the victim's Phinney Ridge garage and then make a beeline for his home.

While the homeowner was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, he heard the suspect knock on his front door, then glass breaking.

The resident stayed on the phone with dispatchers as he went out his front door to look for the suspect. When he didn't find him, the homeowner walked backed into his house and found the suspect standing in his kitchen, holding a pair of garden shears.

Police say the homeowner immediately grabbed the shears from the burglar and began beating the burglar over the head with the tool and his fists, chasing him out the back door.

The homeowner chased after the burglar, but the suspect got away on the homeowner's girlfriend's bicycle.

Police officers caught up with the suspect four blocks away and took him into custody.

The homeowner said he injured his hand during the incident - presumably from punching the suspect - but didn't need any medical attention.

The suspect complained of head injuries. He was treated by medics at the scene before officers transported and booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of burglary.