NATCHEZ —A downtown resident used a hammer to apprehend and assist in the arrest of an alleged burglar Thursday morning.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said a man who owns and lives behind a business in the 400 block of Main Street went outside at 6 a.m. Thursday and found a burglar in his backyard.

The man had stepped out into his backyard and found his weed trimmer, which he normally stores in his shed, leaned up against his brick wall.

Godbold said the burglar was apparently removing the man’s tools from his shed and leaning them against the wall to later take.

“He looked over at his shed and saw a male standing in a corner trying to hide from him,” Godbold said. “So the homeowner grabbed a claw hammer he had on a nearby table and forced the guy on the ground.”

The homeowner’s wife came outside when she heard the commotion and found her husband pinning down the alleged burglar.

She called the police, Godbold said, who arrived shortly after and arrested Kerry Weir, 35.

Weir’s last known address is 1305 LaFayette St., but he claims to now be homeless, Godbold said.

He is being detained in the Natchez city jail without bond until arraignment.

Over the past three weeks, Godbold said several downtown burglaries have plagued downtown in the Union and Rankin streets area.

Yard tools, such as weed trimmers and lawnmowers, have been taken out of yards and storage sheds.

“We’re currently interviewing him, and we may be able to clear up some other downtown burglaries,” Godbold said.