Armed homeowner and contractor take matters into their own hands, stop potential theft

GLENDALE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- An armed homeowner and his contractor stop two would-be thieves in their tracks. 

"If it happens to a person once, the second time, they will do something about it," says homeowner Walter Krieger. 

Walter Krieger says these were some of the thoughts going through his mind on the morning of October 19. 

"Your attitude changes real fast," says Krieger. 

Krieger and his contractor found two 14-year-old Milwaukee teens trying to steal the contractor's minivan. Krieger says both of them have concealed carry permits and drew their guns while his wife called 911.

"Evidently, they intercepted the two young men sitting in the car already so they were probably quite close to taking the van," said Barbara Krieger. 

Krieger says that's when the contractor ordered the teens out of the 2004 Dodge Caravan. 

"He pointed the gun at them, opened the door, and had him lay down on his face on the pavement," said Walter Krieger. 

Krieger says one of the teens ran off, but returned to turn himself in. 

"So then I went back and confronted him and he saw that I had a pistol in my hands and he just raised his hands and I told him to sit down in front of the vehicle and that's what he did until the police department came."

The Glendale Police Department says in this case, both the contractor and Krieger followed the law. 

"The victim did nothing improper. He had everything in place, he did exactly what he legally could do," said Officer Todd Lynch with the Glendale Police Department. 

As of 2011, it is legal under Castle Doctrine, or "Stand Your Ground" law for homeowners to confront intruders in their home.