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Burglar Attacks Showering Homeowner With Laptop, Is Captured By Retired Cop

PALM SPRINGS (CBS) — An unfortunate escape route after a burglary gone bad Saturday led a suspect directly to the barrel end of a retired cop's gun.

A man summoned police to his home in the 600 block of Monterey Road in Palm Springs at about 9:10 a.m. Saturday after a burglar reportedly stole his laptop computer.

The homeowner said he was taking a shower when he heard noises inside his home. He jumped out of the shower and confronted a man taking his laptop, according to Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff.

The suspect was identified as Thomas Allen Rison, 40, of Desert Hot Springs.

Rison allegedly whacked the dripping wet homeowner several times with the computer, before running off with the laptop and other items from the home.

After escaping the house through an unlocked sliding door, Rison entered a nearby home in the 900 block of North Cerritos Drive.

There, he was confronted by the occupant, a retired law enforcement officer who held Rison at gunpoint until officers arrived, Kovaleff said.

Rison was arrested and booked on suspicion of first degree robbery, burglary, possession of a deadly weapon and a probation violation.

The stolen items were recovered in the neighborhood.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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