Skateboarders Come Up With ‘Clever Idea’ To Stop Alleged Burglar In Oregon

Some quick-thinking skateboarders helped thwart a thief in Oregon, police said.

During the day on April 25, Anthony Gates allegedly was caught trying to steal items from homes in a north Portland neighborhood.

“He came through our neighbors’ yard there. He took their barbecue propane tank and a gas can, then came into our yard and took our shovel and ditched his gas can,” Matt Kurowski told KPTV.

According to Kurowski, the 29-year-old suspect then tried to hide in another home’s garage, but the owners chased him away.

While Gates was on the run, Kurowski said, three kids happened to be passing by on skateboards.

“One of them used their skateboard to trip him up,” and they then caught and detained Gates until police arrived, he said, noting it was a “clever idea.”

“I feel like a lot of young people are getting bad raps these days… it was nice to hear that some kids took it upon themselves to stop the guy,” Kurowski added.

Gates was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and has been charged with burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

He also faces multiple charges, including identity theft and a felon in possession of a firearm, from three separate unresolved cases dating to last winter, KPTV reported.