A car owner who came across thieves who were trying to steal his catalytic converter exchanged gunfire with the suspects in a Miami-Dade neighborhood early Wednesday, police said.
The incident unfolded shortly before 5 a.m. at a community in the 8100 block of Northwest 8th Street.
Miami-Dade Police Det. Andre Martin said a resident was in his home when he heard power tools in the parking lot.
The resident saw two people under his vehicle trying to remove the catalytic converter, so he armed himself and confronted the suspects, Martin said.
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“When I went out to walk my dog at 4:45, I hear power tools going off and I go 'what the hell is going on?' I lean over my balcony and I see two guys underneath my truck working to cut off the catalytic converter," owner Luis Vega said. “They got out of the car and they had the gall to come walking. They wanted their tools because they knew they had their prints on them and I said 'no, that’s not going to happen.' So I came back up and I took shelter behind the wall. They go along a sidewalk. One of them crouches behind a pickup truck, points a gun and cranks out two rounds but of course I already took cover. What did I do? I returned fire and they ran.”
Martin said there was an exchange of gunfire, and the two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
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"At this time we do not belive anyone was injured in this incident," Martin said. "But our investigators are working to determine all of the facts in this case."
Doorbell camera video showed two men lurking around and eventually crouching under the car. Another camera showed the men running away followed by what sounds like a gunshot.
“To enter into someone’s residence or apartment complex overnight and to damage their vehicle and steal something that we all work so hard for especially during this holiday season is a very selfish and cowardly crime and it is not something that we as law enforcement will tolerate," Martin said.
The men didn't get away with anything from the victim's car, but detectives are checking if any other cars were hit as another man who lives in the area said someone stole the catalytic converter from his wife's car early Wednesday.
Martin also encouraged residents to not engage with suspects.
"If you witness a crime we encourage you not to engage with the subjects, please call the police and we will be there to assist you in this situation as fast as we can," he said.
