The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Alert neighbors catch burglar, sock him in the face

by •

Courtesy LASD.

LANCASTER – Residents in an east Lancaster neighborhood took crime fighting into their own hands, Tuesday morning, when several neighbors captured and pinned down a suspected burglar until deputies arrived.

The alleged thief, 19-year-old Jaime Ramirez, was booked at the Lancaster Station for burglary, but not before receiving treatment for injuries at a local hospital. Ramirez told deputies he had been “socked in the face by a concerned citizen.”

The following is the press release from the Lancaster Station:

Around 8 a.m., Tuesday morning, Lancaster Sheriff’s Station received a report of Burglary in the 2100 block of Langhorn Ave in east Lancaster.

The caller reported that several neighbors were attempting to detain the suspect. When deputies arrived they found several people holding a male on the ground.

After taking custody of the male, the deputies learned that he had been seen burglarizing a nearby home.  The deputies also learned that the home has been the target of several recent break-ins.  The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Jaime Ramirez. Ramirez is currently on “Felony Probation” for grand theft after being convicted of stealing over 20 air conditioning units from several Lancaster homes last year.

When questioned about the burglary, Ramirez admitted that he was involved.

Based on his probationary status, deputies drove to his home where they located and recovered several items that had been stolen during the previous burglaries.

Ramirez also led the deputies to the home of a 15-year-old male who was also involved in the crimes. At that home, deputies located and recovered additional stolen items, and the 15-year-old was also arrested.

Prior to being booked at the Lancaster Station Jail, Ramirez was transported to a local Hospital where he received treatment for injuries he received while being detained by the residents.  When asked about the injuries, Ramirez told the deputies “I was socked in the face by a concerned citizen.”

Lancaster Station Captain Bob Jonsen said, “I would like to thank all of the residents who helped capture this suspect.”    He added, “We do not advocate citizens taking matters into their own hands, however, we do encourage them to be good witnesses for the responding deputies.”

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

22 comments for "Alert neighbors catch burglar, sock him in the face"

  1. FINALLY take a stand dont let theses scum take something from us we work for. its not out fault that no one doesnt know how to raise kids in to productive ppl anymore.

  2. The several neighbors should be recognized for being courageous citizens in apprehending this criminal as they acted at considerable personal risk to detain him. It is individuals like you who set an example that citizens,neighborhoods and law enforcement can effectively work together for the betterment of public safety. Not only that, but you have prevented other citizens from being victims of this individual by getting him off the street.

    It is my hope that the City of Lancaster Mayor and City Council will present all of you with the Neighborhood Courage Award. You are hero’s of your neighborhood and an asset to the City of Lancaster and set a fine example of strengthening the partnership between the community and the Lancaster Sheriffs Station. Citizen awareness is a key component in the toolbelt of fighting crime.

  3. Cool!!! I’m passing this along to all our neighborhood watch members. I can’t see how this guy only got probation for stealing 20 air conditioning units. if we do the math 20x about $3,000 each = $60,000.

  4. Twenty air conditioning units?! 20!

    Probation??????

    BS!

    The only question I have is this: Is this one of our Kalifornia Dream Act Children?

  5. Im the one he burglarized to u have any idea what it feels like to be violated repeatedly by holding evidence for forensics, yet the thief breakers in over & over stealing that evidence. To not be able to hold it against them, sorry to say but it felt like nothing was being done so the neighborhood got together & cought him ourselves.

    • My question may seem weird, but what type of items do you have missing? I ask only because last week I reported suspicious activity of a gentlemen walking by our house. He would leave “empty” handed but then return with “items” but not in bags. The gentlemen that walks by our house is black and I do believe older than the 15 and 19 year old reported in this story. Just wondering, because if you mention items that I have seen him carrying, there may be a 3rd person involved and we DO know where he lives….

      • A red generator, a gun safe, a large electric fireplace, a widescreen Phillips TV a bluish purplish mountain bike & a lawn mower

        • Just to let everyone know he went to court today & was sentenced to 3 years prison & has to do 85% before he is eligible for parole

        • by the way i understand that when someone brakes in your house it is ok to attack but he wasnt even inside your house he was by the desert and you attack him he wasnt inside your house learn your laws sr. and you attack him by the way you dont make any sense in t.v you said he you told him to stop and he reply why should i stop so he stop to talk to you why would you attack him and the rest of the people?

      • and did you guys had to hit him soo bad to send him to the hospital why dont you guys see that and post it on t.v huh why in the t.v you act all that you thought it was soo funny to hit him like that he is still an 19 year old not a 50 year old like you and he wasnt just the one stilling your stuff it was more people and he was the only one getting the blame you acted on t.v that you got hurt if it was alll this people hitting him 7 people against one why wasnt just one by one you sound so riddiculess and by the way your a lier beacuz he didnt stoled the stuff you are saying you think he is gona be able to carry that shit out please men you dont make sense you only made the cops dumb and make them look bad you know you gang bang and i kno alot about you

  7. Screw that. Citizens do need to get more involved.
    If more did there would be a lot less crime.

    • Well said Bruno. I’m surprised all the loser punk suffered was a punch in the face; a couple of broken arms would have been more appropriate.

        • I miss the days where the family would discipline the punk, all the cops had to do was drive the kid home and tell the family what happened and it would be taken care of.

          It seems like families of criminals spawn criminals without stop. I have seen people stealing, and getting busted, with their children. Now children are being trained to be look outs at as young as 3 years old!

          • Not anymore the parents are just as big a criminal as the kid in most cases. however it seems this one might be because he is doing it again after his first case.