I don't live in the best of neighborhoods and I am always trying to convince homeowners in the community **NOT** to go confront suspicious cars and people in our community. Yes, it's frustrating with all the illegal activities that have gone on in our community (not by the residents, but by tresspassers).
I tell them to call the police, they're usually there quickly (they are here for non-emergencies usually within 10 minutes) and the last thing the community needs is one of the homeowners injured or killed because they knocked on the glass of a car full of drugged out kids. Its not worth it.
Plus the more calls the police gets, the more justification they have for their jobs and the more funding the country sheriff's office will give to our local branch.
While actions like in the article do have the best intentions, is it really worth their life? Plus, you need to really know your federal, state, county, city, and even local laws or else you could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit.