Homeowner shoots burglar

Plant City, Florida -- Anthony Mendolia says it's probably been over 10 years since he last fired a gun. But Tuesday morning he didn't think twice about firing a 9mm at Christopher Collins.

Police say the 34-year old Collins broke into Mendolia's home on Dawnmeadow Court around 8 a.m. Officials were already searching for Collins, who they believe is responsible for a string of area burglaries, when Mendolia shot him in his left foot.

Mendolia had gone home to check on his 11-year-old daughter Nicole, who was home alone. Nicole Mendolia says Collins was in their house for about 20 minutes before her dad came back home. She says she tried pretending she was asleep and hid under her covers while Collins ransacked their home.

After he was shot in the foot, Collins took off, but was nabbed by police just down the street in a neighbor's yard.

Officials say Collins is also responsible for breaking into a deputy's home last month and stealing a bulletproof vest, ammunition and other items.

After Collins was arrested Tuesday, Nicole Mendolia had a message for the intruder: "I would say that you really get what you deserved today. You really deserved to be shot in the leg or foot or wherever you got shot. Seriously, you need to go to jail. You got problems."

After being treated at a local hospital, Collins was booked into the county jail on a host of charges including armed burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief.