George Phillips, an elderly man in Michigan, was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window.
George opened the back door to go out to turn off the shed light, but then he saw people in it, obviously stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?"
He said "No, but some people have broken into my garden shed and are stealing from me."
The police dispatcher said "All our patrols are busy. Lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available"
George said, "Okay." He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he 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 just shot and killed them both; the dogs are eating them right now", and he hung up.
Within five minutes, six police cars, a firearms team, a helicopter, two fire engines, a paramedic and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence, and 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!"