She was supposed to be grabbing coffee. Instead, a phone call quickly turned out to be the scariest she’d ever been on. A Sherman Oaks, California, mom was on the line with her own mother. Her children were inside the house. Her mother was watching them. Then the screaming started. Someone was breaking in. Fear escalated fast. The mom jumped in her Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and raced home, convinced the worst was well underway.

A home security camera caught what happened, and NBC News aired it. As she pulled up, panic took over. She saw a man. She saw a car parked outside.

Acting on instinct, she slammed her G-Wagon into the sedan

That car, it turned out, was the burglars’ getaway vehicle. In her words, she was in shock. In her mind, she believed the intruders had killed her family.

Two of the suspects bolted immediately. Moments later, a third man crawled out from the passenger side and ran. The impact jammed the driver’s door shut.

The G-Wagon took damage as well. Inside the suspects’ car, police investigators found handheld radios that appeared to be used to monitor police activity. It was clear this wasn’t a random act; it looked organized.

The mother asked NBC News to conceal her identity due to safety. Her closing message on camera was raw, angry, and unfiltered: “Next time, I’ll k— them.”

The G-Wagon served its purpose in the moment

A G-Wagon is heavy; nearly three tons of body-on-frame. That mass explains why the burglars’ sedan absorbed most of the punishment.

It also confirms how this could have gone much worse for everyone involved.

Who is liable for the damage?

Legally, this gets complicated. In California, drivers are generally liable for damage they cause, even during emotionally charged moments.

However, context matters. If prosecutors determine the burglars’ actions directly caused the crash, restitution could be ordered as part of a criminal case. Insurance companies will also examine whether the collision qualifies as an intentional act or a response to an immediate threat. That distinction can affect coverage on both vehicles.

Depending on its model year, the G-Wagon’s replacement cost can run anywhere from $40,000 to well over $100,000.

Civil lawsuits are also possible, though the burglary suspects might have a bit of trouble suing.