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Sacramento Security Guard In Jail After Chasing Suspected Thief Who's Walking Free

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A security guard is behind bars, while the suspected thief he was trying to stop is free.

Police say Jack Wong should have just called 911. Instead, he caused a costly collision into a Sacramento home.

"I was at work at the SD Mart, and somebody stole a gold watch from Gold USA," he said in a jailhouse interview.

Now the man who is paid to stop thieves from stealing is behind bars after the way he tried to protect his store.

"I just don't understand why they're doing this? Maybe they're trying to make an example out of me?" he said. "The main goal, initially was to get the plate number and description of the suspect."

Wong allegedly drove after a suspected thief who stole a $500 gold watch from his store. What started as Wong just trying to get the license plate number turned into a wild ride, leading the alleged crook to lose control of his car and crash into a Sacramento home, narrowly missing a man inside.

"To the occupant, and the owner of the house, my deep apology," Wong said.

Police arrested Wong for using his car as a deadly weapon, while the alleged watch thief was only cited and released for misdemeanor robbery. The security guard's attempts to stop a watch thief from getting away now has him facing jail time.

"For doing something right, to protect your property, you get punished for it," he said.

His bail is now set at $1 million, enhanced because of a felony from more than a decade ago for home invasion robbery. He says he's turned his life around since then.

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