Handicapped man leaves note for robbers: 'I will be waiting on you'

GASTONIA, NC (KTRK) -- A handicapped man in Gastonia, North Carolina is issuing a stern warning for anyone who's thinking about breaking into his home.

Joe Sapienza, 68, uses a walker to get around. Last week, he heard some robbers trying to pry the lock to his front door.

"I was gonna protect myself before they got in," Sapienza told WSOC-TV.

Sapienza grabbed his gun, placed it a holster on his walker and then opened the front door. When the would-be robbers saw the weapon, they quickly took off.

"They tried to kill each other getting off the front porch trying to run," Sapienza said.

Now, he's posted a note on his front door warning the robbers not to return. It reads:

Sapienza doesn't know if the robbers will try again, but he promises to be ready in case they do.