ALAMO - A Rio Grande Valley family said they were stunned to find out they were robbed outside of their home while they were inside.

Alamo resident Cecy Hoyuela lives with her husband, two children and two grandchildren. She said their well-being and peace of mind is her priority.

Hoyuela said Monday’s cold front forced them to stay inside and watch the football game.

“We didn’t hear anything. We didn’t see anything because we were too into the football game,” she said.

Hoyuela said they later noticed one of the two speakers installed outside was missing from the backyard.

“We tracked the cameras and we see this individual just pacing at a slow pace. Just grabbing the speaker and walking with it,” she said.

Surveillance video didn’t show a car pulling to the front of the home. Hoyuela said the only way the burglar could have entered her property is through the back. She said it’s the only section of her home that isn’t gated.

Behind the home sits 13 additional acres that also belongs to the family. She said someone would have had to cross the field in order to get into their backyard.

 “It was still early, 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. We were still awake and we were here,” she said. “My kids were here. My grandkids were here.”

Hoyuela said she’s thankful the thief didn’t come inside. As a gun owner, she said she would have protected her family.

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Sgt. J.P. Rodriguez said people have a right to protect themselves and their property only if certain criteria are met.

“If someone is coming at you with deadly force or you perceive them to be a threat, that’s going to cause you seriously bodily injury or even death,” he said.

Rodriguez said the crimes of a trespasser on a property or inside a home are weighed differently under the law. He said night and daytime cases also differ.

“Next time it’s going to be one of my vehicles. Next time it’s going to be through one of my windows. I don’t think so. Not on my turf,” she said.

Hoyuela said she will continue to monitor her surveillance cameras. She said she’s also considered adding more security measures to her property.

Attorney Ricardo Barrera said the key words to remember before taking any sort of force or deadly force are reasonable, necessary and imminent. He said you could face a lawsuit if your response to a trespasser is viewed as negligent.

“People have to use their brains and their minds and decide. Do they have an old confused person with Alzheimer’s in their backyard or do they have a person who’s mentally ill and doesn’t know where they are,” he said. “The best thing to do if you see somebody on your property is to call the police. Let the professionals handle it.”

Barrera emphasized that no two scenarios are the same. He urged homeowners to contact police before confronting an intruder.