POSTED: Thursday, September 02, 2010 --- 5:22 p.m.

Twice in the last week completely surprised victims have caught Janesville burglars in the act.

They were able to hold them until police arrived at the scene but the concern is how bold the burglars have become.

Joe Volk says, "He took the screen out and he propped it up this way."

Volk couldn't believe his eyes.

He says, "At first I was shocked and then I thought, being ex-military, I should take some action."

Early Monday morning his wife woke him up and told him their house had been burglarized overnight while they slept.

He called police, opened the front door and saw the burglar standing right there in front of him.

He says, "I just stood up here (on his porch) in order to retain him between the two fences. I'm a pretty big guy, I think he probably thought twice (about leaving)."

Volk says the burglar knew his daughter but in other Janesville cases the victims have been much more random.

Police say in the Cherokee Road neighborhood alone they've had at least four reports of burglaries or burglary attempts this summer where someone cuts open screens or kicks in doors when people are at home sleeping.

At a home on Canvasback Drive police say someone broke in and made off with $5,500 worth of stuff while parents and kids were home sleeping.

No one heard anything.

Janesville Police Deputy Chief John Olsen says, "That's a little unusual for us."

Police say how bold these burglars are being, entering occupied homes, is reason for concern.

Olsen says, "You don't know what their ultimate motive is going in to that house."

Police say the total number of burglaries is about normal for the summer. They just don't usually see crooks desperate enough to enter homes while people are there and they know in those cases it doesn't always end as well as it did for Volk.

Police say the burglaries aren't contained to any one particular neighborhood but in certain areas they've been increasing their efforts, especially during the night time hours when officers can make contact with people who are out and about.