The boy, identified only as Simeon, was waiting with younger siblings in the parking lot of a Dollar Tree store in Universal City when he spotted a man getting into and out of a pickup, The San Antonio Express-News reported. Simeon watched as the man smashed a window on a Nissan Xterra and grabbed items from the car.

He got his younger sister, Anna Leah, to write the license plate number and a short description of the man on a napkin with her Sharpie. When their mother returned to their car, she called police.

Police Lt. Bill Gabbard said the suspect was found at a friend's house near the Dollar Tree. Police said they recovered $30,000 in allegedly stolen goods, including a laptop computer, several monitors and television sets and 18 women's purses.

"He's a hero in my book," Gabbard said of his young helper. "As a mother, you couldn't be more proud when your son has the mindset to watch, focus and get the suspect description, car and plate number to a T."