The woman was alone with her 3-year-old when the man broke into their house around 10:30 a.m. and forced them at gunpoint to a couch in the family room, according to Orem police.

The man, later identified by police as Sean Anthony Gayou, allegedly bound the mother and son with plastic ties and proceeded to rifle through the woman's purse.

He stole credit cards and forced the woman to reveal her personal identification numbers and then escaped in the family's minivan, according to Orem police Lt. Doug Edwards.

Officers found the minivan about an hour later in the parking lot of University Mall. Gayou was spotted at a bus stop on the east side of the mall.

When officers approached, Gayou ran to a nearby restroom and barricaded himself inside. He surrendered a short time later, Edwards said. Investigators found a loaded 9mm handgun in the restroom's trash. Officers determined the gun had been reported stolen Monday in Sandy.

Plastic ties like the ones used to bind the woman and her son were found in Gayou's backpack, said Edwards.

Gayou was wanted on four warrants at the time of his arrest and is on probation for a felony conviction. He has a history of illegal drug use, burglary and theft, according to court records.

- Michael N. Westley