For the second time in a year, the same man was caught during a break-in and surrendered to irate citizens who gave chase in their cars, police said.
"Remember you got arrested by the girl last time?" Detective Robert Edgerton asked David Watson, 27, during Watson's arrest Thursday."You better give up this occupation. You're obviously bad at it."
Authorities said Watson was going through dresser drawers when John Giovanelli stopped home for lunch. Giovanelli, 40, saw Watson and ran out of the house and yelled for a neighbor to call police.
Watson bolted out the back door and ran off. Giovanelli chased him on foot but gave up after 1 1/2 blocks, police said.
Giovanelli ran back to his house, got a gun, jumped in his car and went looking for Watson. Six blocks away he caught sight of Watson and fired his gun into a lawn to get his attention, Edgerton said.
Giovanelli pointed the gun at Watson and ordered him into the back of his car, then drove home while pointing the gun at Watson, Edgerton said.
Police charged Watson with burglary.
In June 1988, Heather Leigh Avery confronted Watson as he burlgarized a neighbor's house in the Coral Ridge area of Fort Lauderdale.
When Watson fled out the back door carrying a videocassette recorder, Avery got into her car and chased him down two blocks away, police said.