Man offers burglar breakfast
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:21 pm
A man said he had a heart-to-heart conversation with an armed burglar over a cup of coffee after he found him stealing his belongings from his home on Sept. 11. Steve Swanson said he found a man, who police suspect is Armando Hernandez, stealing items from his home in the 300 block of Terra Alta.
"I said, 'What are you doing here?'" Swanson said. "He said, 'I'm taking your stuff and it's too bad you showed up.'"
Swanson said Hernandez was carrying a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, but he didn't panic.
"I said, 'You don't want to do this. First of all, if you harm me or kill me, I'm just going to go to heaven. You're going to go to prison forever,'" Swanson said. Swanson said he gave the burglar all the money in his wallet and offered to listen to his problems over breakfast.
He said Hernandez told him he couldn't pay his bills or afford to buy food for himself.
Swanson said he ended their conversation with a prayer and a hug.
He said he convinced Hernandez to give him back two pillowcases full of stolen items.
However, Swanson said the burglar still got away with some of his wife's expensive jewelry.
Swanson said he notified police only for insurance purposes.
If it wasn't for that, Swanson said he would have upheld his promise to let the thief go.
Swanson said he believes the men crossed paths for a reason.
"I do believe God put us together and protected me," he said.
"I said, 'What are you doing here?'" Swanson said. "He said, 'I'm taking your stuff and it's too bad you showed up.'"
Swanson said Hernandez was carrying a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, but he didn't panic.
"I said, 'You don't want to do this. First of all, if you harm me or kill me, I'm just going to go to heaven. You're going to go to prison forever,'" Swanson said. Swanson said he gave the burglar all the money in his wallet and offered to listen to his problems over breakfast.
He said Hernandez told him he couldn't pay his bills or afford to buy food for himself.
Swanson said he ended their conversation with a prayer and a hug.
He said he convinced Hernandez to give him back two pillowcases full of stolen items.
However, Swanson said the burglar still got away with some of his wife's expensive jewelry.
Swanson said he notified police only for insurance purposes.
If it wasn't for that, Swanson said he would have upheld his promise to let the thief go.
Swanson said he believes the men crossed paths for a reason.
"I do believe God put us together and protected me," he said.
