DELTONA, Fla. – Detectives are investigating a series of burglaries in Deltona, and a video released on Friday shows one such burglary while a resident was at home, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies announced on social media that the burglary happened in the early hours of Thursday morning at a home along Sylvia Drive.
In a release, investigators said that it appeared as though the suspect entered through an unlocked door, and cash was stolen from the home.
REWARD AVAILABLE: Detectives are investigating a series of burglaries in @CityofDeltonaFL including a burglary of an occupied home while the resident was sleeping. pic.twitter.com/LP0WPjUDLm
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) January 26, 2024
“The victim was not aware of the burglary until she woke up in the morning and noticed several doors in her home were ajar,” the release reads.
Neighbor Victoria Sustar told News 6 that the incident scared her and left her “shaken.”
“These people were sleeping. Maybe that’s why he didn’t hurt them,” she said. “But if they would have come out, he might’ve hurt them.”
According to detectives, the same suspect is believed to be involved in vehicle burglaries and other attempted burglaries along Applegate Terrace and Armadillo Drive.
In those cases, stolen items included Apple AirPods and a handgun, the release shows.
Neighbor Kristine Hager told News 6 that one of the cars involved in the attempted burglaries belonged to her.
“He came up with a flashlight, looking to see if there’s maybe anything valuable,” she said. “Then, he of course pulled the thing to see if it was unlocked. He noticed it wasn’t, then he moved away.”
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact detectives at (386) 860-7030 or JLRichardson@volusiasheriff.gov.
Deputies said that Sheriff Mike Chitwood is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect involved in these burglaries.
“An occupied burglary in the middle of the night makes law enforcements’ hair on the back of their neck stand up,” Chitwood said. “If someone’s entering an occupied home at night, nothing good comes out of that.”
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