George P. of Meridian, Mississippi, was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the potting shed near the garden, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things and went back into the kitchen.

He quickly picked up the phone and called the police, who asked "Is there someone in your house?"  George replied, "No, I said they're out in the shed!"

The dispatcher remarked that all the patrols were busy, and that George should simply lock his door. An officer would be along when available.

George said "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello. I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all." He hung up the phone.

Within five minutes three police cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up at the P's residence. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!" (True Story)