Knoxville (WVLT) -A pistol-packing politician catches a group of intruders suspected of stealing motorcycles from his warehouse.

State senator Tim Burchett had to draw his gun on four people as they were leaving his warehouse on Ball Camp Pike Wednesday morning. Senator Burchett had three motorcycles stolen out of his warehouse in recent weeks. He had been staking out the building and called 911 after catching the burglars in the act, but told us he had to draw his gun to prevent them from escaping.

Knox County deputies took three juveniles and one adult into custody. The suspects led deputies to his stolen motorcycles. This is the second time in a week that a local elected official has pulled a gun on a suspected thief. Knox County commissioner "Lumpy" Lambert drew on a man he says tried to steal a vehicle from his used car lot.

"I'm all for Lumpy. If a guy's going to steal something from you, pull a gun on you, it's his constitutional right to defend himself. It's mine too, and I did it, and I'm glad I did it, because if I hadn't those kids would still be out there stealing," Burchett said.

Senator Burchett says he's installing new locks and a high-tech security system on his warehouse.