Memphis Veteran Holds Burglar for Police After Repeated Break-Ins

Kenneth Dixon has defended this country in uniform, and now the veteran has had to defend himself and his home in Memphis, Tennessee. 

According to Memphis police, a man named Simeon Pratcher is in custody after breaking in to Dixon’s home earlier this week. It’s not the first time that the veteran has been targeted by thieves. In fact, Pratcher told police that he entered the home through a window that was broken during the last break-in, believing the residence to be unoccupied. 

It was not. 

The victim told officers he was sitting in his living room when he heard someone come in through the front bedroom window, which was broken from a previous burglary. 

He grabbed a gun and walked to the bedroom, where he saw Pratcher standing in the doorway. He said he fired two shots because he was in fear for his life.

Kenneth Dixon, the victim in this case, told WREG his home has been broken into and his belongings have been stolen several times, and he has to protect himself and his property.

“He came through the window, but he knocked some stuff over, and I heard him. I was sitting right here, watching a movie on my phone,” Dixon said. “When I heard him, I grabbed my gun, which Saturday night, I had to go get from my brother, okay?”

Dixon apparently left the gun with his brother while he went on a family trip, which was pretty smart considering his home had recently been targeted by thieves. It was also wise of Dixon to stop by his brother’s to retrieve his gun on his way back home, since he needed it just a few hours later. 

Even though Dixon reported a burglary in progress when he called 911, he says it took police over an hour to respond. When they got there, they found Pratcher still on the bedroom floor, with Dixon still holding his gun in his hand. 

Dixon says the break-ins have also left him with significant damage and costly repairs, so not only is he worried about his safety, but also his finances.

“I’m done. Just stick a fork in me. It’s fighting time. I got to fight back, I’m sorry. Y’all can take it any way you want to,” Dixon said.

As far as I’m concerned, Mr. Dixon has every right to fight back when the sanctity of his home is invaded. 

We talk a lot about the threat to life and limb from violent attackers, but even if burglars strike when no one is home they can do significant damage to the residents. Dixon has not only had some of his belongings taken from him, but as he notes, the cost to repair the damage done by previous burglars is going to hit him hard. I imagine that if Dixon could have afforded to fix that broken window he would have, but like many of us, he probably doesn’t have a lot of spare cash laying around (especially after being victimized by multiple burglaries). 

Dixon isn’t asking for a handout. In fact, he’s not asking for anything at all, except maybe some understanding of his frustration. Well, that and for people to stay out of his home unless they want to get shot. I don’t think either of those are unreasonable asks, and I sincerely hope he gets his wish. 

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