An Austin homeowner got a rude early morning surprise when he discovered a man in his garage at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger said the homeowner, at the 1400 block of Seventh Street Northwest, watched a slender man in a hooded shirt cross his lawn toward his property. After the homeowner heard the suspect enter his garage through an unlocked side door, the homeowner tried to confront the man, who fled from the area.

Police were unable to find the suspect.

While Krueger was thankful no one was injured, he warned residents to lock their doors whenever possible.

“This could have turned out much worse if there had been a confrontation,” Krueger said. “Please, please lock your doors.”

This is the latest in a string of burglaries, home intrusions and other incidents where suspects entered unlocked houses over the past few months.