3 home intruders shot dead in Albuquerque

3 home intruders shot dead in Albuquerque
'Hopefully this is going to send a message,' says police spokeswoman
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Posted: December 28, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Three men who broke into homes in the Albuquerque, N.M., area in the last month were shot dead by homeowners, and police say they hope would-be robbers take the hint.

The latest incident involved Raymond Gabaldon, 40, a repeat offender, who, police say, stole a car and then tried to break into a home in southwest Albuquerque.

"Hopefully this is going to send a message to people who are breaking into homes," Albuquerque police spokeswoman Trish Hoffman told the Albuquerque Tribune. "They're engaging in very dangerous behavior, not only to the people they're robbing, but to themselves."

None of the three homeowners involved in the shootings have been charged, though the cases are still under review by law enforcement.

Homeowners around the country were also dealing directly with those breaking into their homes and businesses.

An armed homeowner in Charlotte, N.C., also foiled a break-in Tuesday, police there report.

A man told police he was preparing to take out the trash at his home when he realized an intruder was in his house.

The resident told police he went to get a handgun and as he turned around, the attacker struck him in the back of the head. That triggered a fight between the attacker and the resident of the house. During the scuffle, the victim said, he fired his gun once, with the bullet striking the refrigerator.

The assailant then fled on foot.

In Kingsport, Tenn., an armed convenience store clerk yesterday pulled a handgun on a knife-wielding robber, fired once and drove him off with one shot.

And, in Seattle, an armed homeowner fatally shot an intruder Tuesday, according to a police report.

The homeowner was roused from sleep by an intruder. The 31-year-old homeowner grabbed his shotgun and killed Justin Hercyk. That case is still under investigation.