'Embarrassed' Burglar Apologizes For Breaking In And Pays Homeowners $200 For Broken Window

The owners of a house in New Mexico returned home to find an intruder under their roof. The burglar, caught in the act, took nothing from the house; instead, he paid them $200 for a window he broke before sheepishly leaving the place.

The incident happened Sunday afternoon. The burglar had an AR-15 scoped rifle with him as he entered the Santa Fe house. However, he did not use the rifle or threaten the family during the encounter. The man slept in the home, bathed, ate some food and even helped himself to some beer before the homeowners returned. They found him inside a back room, Albuquerque Journal reported, citing a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office report.

The burglar simply picked up his duffel bag and his AR-15 scoped rifle before proceeding to leave. He also dropped $200 on a living room chair on his way out and said it was “reimbursement for the window he broke,” deputies said in their report.

There was some jewelry left on a counter in the house. But police said that the burglar did not take it.

Citing the homeowners, the outlet reported that the burglar was remorseful about the situation. “The male was extremely embarrassed and apologetic about the situation,” the report said. The owners also asked the suspect why he entered their house and were told that he was on the run.

“His family was killed in east Texas and he was running from somebody,” the report said. The man also claimed he had driven to the area but his vehicle stalled about 100 miles outside of town.

The homeowners watched the burglar walk away with his belongings and enter a ditch nearby. When a couple of deputies arrived at the house, they searched the ditch but found no sign of the man, according to Associated Press.

The burglar was described as 6 feet tall and is believed to be in his mid to late 20s. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and baggy jeans.

His intrusion into the house cost the homeowners $15. Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident.