Miami pensioner shoots at man trying to burgle her home

88-year-old Arlene Theresa Orms did not hesitate when she heard someone jiggling her front door lock late at night

88yr-old Arlene Theresa Orms frightened off the burglar as he attempted to burgle her Miami home (Getty)

She may be 88 but break into Arlene Theresa Orms’ house and she’ll whip out her handgun and open fire. At least that’s what one burglar found.

Detective Sean Dorcely said the pistol packing pensioner heard someone jiggling her front door lock of her Miami home and trying to get in, late Tuesday night.

When the burglar kicked open the door she opened fire with her .25-caliber Beretta handgun, he told CBS Miami. It is not known whether she hit him but the startled thief bolted before she could fire again, he added.

He was unsure as to whether she had a permit for the weapon, but he said that the law did not require you to have one to use a weapon in your own home.

Neighbours were quick to praise the weapon wielding widow.

“You have to do what you have to do to protect yourself,” Gladys Betancourt told the WSVN TV station. “I’m glad she did this. She was a very brave woman. I wouldn’t.”

Another next-door neighbor, Raul Barreto, said: “I believe if someone tries to get into your house, maybe, shoot. You are not going to ask them are you going to be nice or good. The question is what are you doing on my property?”