During the early morning hours, a 73-year-old man in Lincoln Park, Chicago, confronted two individuals attempting to steal his catalytic converter. One of the thieves brandished a firearm, prompting the victim to open fire.

While fleeing the scene, both thieves escaped in a dark SUV that struck a parked car. No injuries were reported, and neighbors who called 911 said hearing yelling followed by two or three gunshots.

The victim is licensed to own firearms.

Another round of catalytic converter thefts was reported in the same area just after 5 a.m. Witnesses said the thieves fled in a white Dodge Durango from the incident location in the 2200 block of North Cleveland, just a few blocks from where the shots were fired earlier.

This is very similar to other stories we have covered under similar circumstances. A homeowner hears or sees something causing them to “go investigate.” We repeat this time and time. Grabbing your gun and leaving your home to investigate what you heard or saw is never a good idea. This story, and others, could have ended tragically for the victim if the armed thief had decided to shoot first.

Stay secure in your home, arm yourself if you aren’t already, and call the police. You never know what you are walking out to or how many opponents you may be up against.

Read the original story: 74-Year-Old Chicago Man Fires On Catalytic Converter Thieves