“If I were to let this guy steal from me, then he’s going to steal from other people,” Landry said. “We really need to have justice for these things.”
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Chase Landry’s grandmother gave him the nickname “MacGyver”—and it’s a title that’s served him well.
Landry, who owns a plumbing business called McG Krush Plumbing Solutions in Grand Prairie, is known for his ability to fix things on his own. But last Sunday, he put that talent to the test in a way he never expected.
While checking his property, Landry noticed something unsettling.
“I saw the fence panels gone, and reality started hitting me, OK somebody was in here,” he recalled.
His worst fears were realized when he discovered a thief had stolen nearly $50,000 worth of tools and even damaged his four trucks at his shop. Landry called 9-1-1 immediately and detectives came out to collect fingerprints and take a police report.
But as he watched his wife’s favorite crime dramas, he remembered one important detail: “The criminal always revisits the crime scene.”
Instead of wallowing in his loss, Landry decided to take action.
“I was laid up threw my legs and was kinda watching,” he said, setting up a makeshift bed on a workout bench and a paper towel for a pillow. He had a strong feeling the thief would return.
“It was very strong in my gut that he was going to come back.”
Sure enough, the thief did return late Sunday night. Landry, who was armed, wanted to confront him, but his moral compass kicked in and he was reminded of a quote he had written on a whiteboard.
“One of the things I have in the back is ‘Don’t Repay Evil with Evil, Repay Evil With Good'” he explained. So, he called 9-1-1 instead.
Grand Prairie police arrived and arrested Jose Contreras on the property that night. Contreras faces two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and may be linked to other burglaries in the area.
“If I were to let this guy steal from me, then he’s going to steal from other people,” Landry said. “We really need to have justice for these things. Otherwise, he’s going to keep doing it.”
Though Landry is still upset, he hopes the thief will find redemption.
“I am upset with him. But at the end of the day, I just want him to get better.”
Now, Landry’s focus is on rebuilding his business, but he’s also proud he trusted his instincts—turning his MacGyver-like skills into an unexpected triumph.
