MESA, AZ (CBS5) -
It was the first day of Vicky Hutt's staycation, so she didn't expect her luggage to get so much use.
"This is my luggage, this is my husband's backpack," Hutt pointed out as she scrolled through images on her computer.
Hutt was out when two guys broke into her house in Mesa a few weeks ago, but she got the play by play in pictures thanks to an alert neighbor who Hutt had never met.
"I hollered at them and said 'What's going on out here'?" said her neighbor, who asked that we only identify him by his nickname, Kuder.
He's a retired military policeman who still has a hunch when something doesn't look right.
"The only thing I thought about was to run in the house, grab my camera and start taking pictures," Kuder said.
The pictures gave police what they needed to track down one of the guys who had Hutt's Playstation and precious laptop computer.
"I would have lost all my school work and then of course I have grandchildren, there's pictures that you keep on there," Hutt said.
Hutt later found out that Kuder has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 40 years. He's one of few things about the area that hasn't changed.
"He's like an angel dropping down on us, just taking care of everybody. He probably takes care of everyone in this neighborhood and nobody knows about it," she said.
So Hutt asked nominated this neighborhood watchdog for CBS 5's Pay It Forward segment.
We knocked on his door with the $500 reward.
As strange as it sounds, Hutt is actually glad those guys broke into her house.
It allowed her to meet one of the best neighbors she's ever had.
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Vicky Hutt and Kuder
