If you ask people why they purchase guns, most will say self-defense. If you press a little further, you’ll find the majority have their gun because they’re concerned someone will try to break into their home while people are there.

It’s a very real concern, too. After all, so-called “hot” burglaries happen all the time. The general consensus is that if someone breaks into an occupied home, they intend to harm the occupants.

As a result, it means you should be prepared to defend yourself.

That’s precisely what one California resident recently is alleged to have done.

Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives have recovered surveillance video from an east Central Fresno home – after a resident said he shot at someone who was trying to break in on Wednesday morning.

The 17-year-old suspected burglar was found nearby after being struck.

The homeowner reported a burglary at his home for the second time in two weeks.

“We’re obviously talking with the homeowner to figure out why he might be getting targeted so much, and then there’s a lot to the story that we still don’t know,” said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say a Ring camera installed by the front door was working early Wednesday morning and captured video of the attempted burglary. The camera also alerted the homeowner, who deputies say, grabbed a handgun and ran outside. By that time detectives were told, the suspect had jumped a fence and was running.

At some point, the homeowner confronted the attempted burglar, and several shots were fired.

Unfortunately, it looks like the homeowner is being looked at as someone who did something wrong rather than the victim here. Honestly, the reason he was targeted a second time may have been the burglar wanted to come back for stuff he saw but didn’t take last time.

Regardless, it looks like the suspect didn’t get far. He was soon found nearby, bleeding from the gunshot wound.

I find I’m unable to muster any pity.

Look, I’ve been the victim of a burglary before. Some snot-nosed punk–based on witness descriptions, actually–broke in my back door, stole a few things of no real appreciable value, but left my wife feeling incredibly violated. It’s a property crime, but there’s still trauma created from such an invasion.

Imagine finding someone trying to break into your home while you’re still there?

That said, it’s rarely a good idea to follow someone who tried to break in. Get a good look if you can, note the direction they were heading and what they were wearing in as much detail as you can, but following them may not be the wisest course of action. After all, they could be leading you toward a number of heavily armed friends of theirs.

No, it’s best to keep your butt at home and be a good witness for the police.

After all, running away, they’re not a threat to you or yours. At that point, it’s over, for the most part. Don’t prolong it any more than necessary. Especially since a prosecutor can make the case you went after him looking for trouble, even if that’s not your intention.