A California mother bravely chased down two burglars she caught leaving her residence and smashed out their getaway automotive’s again window together with her naked hand as they fled together with her handgun and her son’s piggy financial institution.
Kiara Ortiz stated she had simply picked up lunch together with her two kids on Saturday after they noticed the thieves exiting from their Torrance condominium in southwestern Los Angeles.
“We have been popping out of the automotive my son instantly stated, ‘Who’s that?’ and once I seemed over I noticed one among them with my child’s piggy financial institution,” Ortiz advised ABC 7.
The buglers instantly took off after being seen, however the quick-thinking mother of two wasn’t going to allow them to get away simply.
She started to chase after the pair, recording them on her telephone, as they bolted in direction of a darkish inexperienced BMW.
Ortiz — who works as a private health coach — caught as much as the automotive earlier than they might make their escape, the place she used her naked hand to interrupt the BMW’s rear window.
“I noticed the man type of attain over for one thing, so I backed up a little bit bit went across the automotive and hit the windshield, the window,” she advised the outlet.
The thieves sped off after Ortiz smashed within the again window — practically hitting one other driver as they fled with the stolen items.
When the mom-of-two went to see what was stolen from her residence, she advised ABC 7 that the condominium was ransacked totally.
The buglers made off together with her jewellery, about $100 in money, and her son’s piggy financial institution.
They have been additionally capable of pry open the lockbox in her bed room containing her handgun, which additionally they stole.
Ortiz stated the entire ordeal has left her shaken.
“I really feel very violated, very offended,” she stated.
Through the chase, Ortiz’s son was capable of snap a photograph of the BMW’s license plate, which the household hoped would assist carry the thieves to justice.
Nonetheless, after turning over the picture to the police, it was decided to be a stolen plate that didn’t match the automotive.
Whereas they nonetheless stay at giant, Ortiz stated she’s “grateful” that her household is protected and wasn’t residence when the thieves broke into their condominium.
“It might have gone so unhealthy,” she stated.
The Torrance Police Division stated they’re actively investigating the housebreaking.
“This kind of crime is regarding, and we’re dedicated to making sure the security of our
group,” the division wrote in a assertion.
“We encourage group members to stay vigilant and report any suspicious habits or exercise to the Torrance Police Division promptly.”
A crime evaluation report launched by the Torrance Police Division in April exhibits that there have been 86 residential burglaries within the coastal metropolis of Torrance in 2025.