[monsterhunter]

If the suspect was already in the garage, it looks like a burglary. If he was following your friend into the garage, it is much more serious. I would speculate anything from robbery to car jacking would be the intended crime. We will never know for sure. Sometimes the predators balk if they are confronted, and that may be what worked out for your friend. Other times they don't. If he was going straight after your friend, looking for an ambush type event, it would be a race to the door which may not be good.

If he could have gone inside, then I agree: Do whatever it takes to protect yourself, call the police, and keep them informed.

There are too many variables and it's hard to say exactly would be his best course of action. Some of it will have to be reaction to the suspect, unless your friend chooses to take the initiative, which could have some negative consequences on him.

Like I said, some will back down once they see their intended prey is not easy. Others, once they make progress forward (like chasing them to the door) won't stop once they've started. Kind of like a prey drive in a wild animal.

Hope that helps...best wishes to your friend, and you are correct it is very serious. Your friend should be very careful.