Man confronts suspected car burglar in parking lot

The man peering into car windows and trying door handles caught the attention of Miguel Angel Leon, who suspected he had seen a holiday season Grinch in action trying to burglarize cars.

Leon was sitting in his car at a Tamarac Walmart, waiting for his wife who had gone into the store to buy some milk, when he confronted the man Dec. 5, a Broward Sheriff ’s report said.

The burglar, who had tattoos under both eyes, turned toward Leon.

“He turned around and saw me sitting in the car,” Leon, 44, said. “And that’s when he took out the knife.”

Leon asked him, “Can I help you, what are you doing?” and the knife-wielding man responded, “You wanna die today?” according to the report.

The burglar then put his Office knife away and raised his fists, striking Leon in the face, the report said.

When Leon stumbled, the man quickly got into Leon’s 2005 Kia Sorento and tried to steal his car. Authorities said Leon managed to drag the kicking man out of the Kia and the pair again got into a scuffle.

Leon told detectives the man appeared tired of fighting and ran off. That’s when Leon got in his SUV and tried chasing after his assailant, who ultimately got away.

“I guess maybe it’s not a good idea like my wife told me, but you don’t think like that when someone’s going to take your stuff,” Leon said. “I don’t regret it.”

According to the report, the assailant had a “2017” tattoo under his left eye and an unknown tattoo under and over his right eye. He was between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall,