A Bonners Ferry man helped police nab two teens accused of at least five break-ins in his North Hill neighborhood.

Patrick Murphy told The Herald he was awoken at 2 a.m. Friday after hearing someone walking in front of his home. Murphy looked out the window and saw someone walk in front of the garage.  He grabbed his gun while his wife, Lisa, called police

“It was a little unsettling,” said Lisa Murphy. “I had (a) 911 (dispatcher) on the phone and I watched Patrick the whole time.”

Patrick Murphy surprised the unidentified 14- and 17-year-old boys in his garage and asked if they had any weapons. One showed Murphy a Leatherman multi-tool and a pellet pistol tucked into his pants.

“I just held the boys there in the garage until the sheriff came,” he said.  “They (the deputies) got here pretty quick — about 5 minutes after we called them.”

According the Boundary County Sheriff Chief Deputy Rich Stephens, the boys admitted to about five burglaries in recent weeks involving unlocked cars and homes. Among items stolen and recovered was a Nikon camera belonging to The Bonners Ferry Herald, which was taken from an employee’s car at her home. The boys threw the camera into a ditch.

 Stephens said the boys are being cooperative and that most of the stolen items have been recovered. 

The Murphys and Stephens said the situation could have ended worse and are grateful that no one was hurt.

“We are glad it didn’t turn out worse and we feel for the parents of the boys,” Lisa Murphy said. “Our hearts go out to them.”

Among the items that were stolen are Ipods, a Wii game system, alcohol and about $30.

In related matters, two boys were detained at a bar in Naples after an employee caught them going through unlocked cars. When the employee went to call the sheriff, the boys took off.

“It appears they were taking stuff from places that were unlocked and easy to get to,” said Stephens.