Resident Arrives To Find Burglars In Dade Home
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami Dade Police are searching for two burglars they say were caught in the act by the resident Monday morning.
The resident of the southwest Miami-Dade home walked in to find two men burglarizing the house, police said.
That's when the two men took off running prompting the resident to chase after them.
At some point in the brief chase, one of the men turned around and shot at the resident who was not hit. Both men got away.
Homeowner Filmon Ortiz said he didn't hesitate to chase the burglars.
"I ran after them because they had a bag full of my belongings, my property. I thought they had valuable things. I didn't know they were armed," Ortiz said.
"They shot at me. They shot at me seven times," Ortiz said. "I hid behind the palm trees," he said, referring to the large Royal Palm's in the swale in front of his home.
Ortiz showed reporters a gaping billet hole in his car, a slug intended for him.
In retros fact, he said he should not have chased after the thieves.
"I wasn't scared then, but I'm scared now," Ortiz said. "Thinking about it now, I'm glad my wife and stepson were not home. I don't know what might have happened."
Evidence cones marked the spots where bullet casings fell near the home.
Resident Yolanda Gonzalez says she lives in the home and told CBS4's Gary Nelson she arrived at the home after a frantic call at work.
"They just called me. They say that there are robbers inside the house. They broke in and they're shooting. They were shooting," said Gonzalez.
When asked who was in the house at the time, she said "I don't know."
Gonzalez says she lives at the home with her husband and son.
Meantime, authorities continue to search for the culprits. They set up a perimeter and were searching by ground and air. They also dispatched a SWAT unit.
Police say the two men they are looking for are described as black males in their early 20s, about 5'8" to 5'10" with thin builds, weighing about 140 pounds. Both men wore black hooded sweatshirts.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to call (305) 471- TIPS. Tips can be anonymous.