Burglary Victim in FL Strikes Burglar with Car… Twice

Not long after I posted about a New Hampshire burglary victim arrested for firing a warning shot to detain an intruder, I came upon this story from Florida – where in a case of mistaken home identity, a burglar broke into the wrong home. What happens next is worth the read

An angry homeowner and a burglary suspect were arrested after a violent confrontation near Casselberry on Thursday night, police said. The incident began when Crishna Persaud called 911 on Thursday night to report that a burglar had kicked in the front door of his home.

Homeowner Takes the Initiative

"I have someone who just tried to break into my house," Persaud told a police dispatcher. "He broke in the front door and I heard the banging. Then I went downstairs, and then I was like, 'Hey, what the hell are you doing?' and he's running right back outside."

The Situation Escalates

The burglar, later identified by police as James Key, ran down the block. Persaud said he put his 2-year-old daughter in his car and went after Key, according to police. "I'm driving around the subdivision right now," Persaud told a dispatcher. Police said it did not take Persaud long to track Key down. "Hold on, he's right here. He's right here. The (expletive) is right here," shouted Persaud. "You trying to rob my (expletive) house?" Persaud was heard asking Key on police recordings.

The homeowner must have been the only parent at home – otherwise, it’s hard to imagine taking an infant along when confronting a potentially armed and dangerous intruder.

Anger Management Needed

Persaud is then heard on tape saying, "I'm going to (expletive) kill you." Investigators said Persaud then hit Key with his car, knocking him to the ground. Key then got up and tried to escape when Persaud accelerated, hopped a curb and rammed him again, according to police. "You try to rob my house?" asked Persaud. "It's the wrong house, dude. I had the wrong house. I'm sorry," Key is heard responding.

The Burglar’s Story

Key told deputies that he had been trying to steal an engagement ring and other jewelry to give to another girl, according to police. He quickly realized that he broke into the wrong house, police said. Both men were arrested. Persaud faces attempted murder charges.

The homeowner in this incident certainly would be harder to defend than a burglary victim firing a warning shot: vehicular homicide is hardly self-defense. It’s especially ironic that the burglar entered the wrong house. But as a parent, I can understand how the homeowner might have reacted very strongly to a home invasion when there is a young child in the house. I just don’t think I would have chased the burglar, and then struck him – twice – with my young child still in the car.

The story does not relate if the homeowner had an alarm system, but I assume he did not: otherwise, the yard signs and decals would probably have deterred the burglar in the first place. It’s clearly better to prevent a burglary than risk a felony conviction after the fact! Research has shown that having a monitored alarm system works: you are three times less likely to be burglarized than your unprotected neighbor. And the best systems use safer cellular monitoring, in addition to offering smarter interactive services. FrontPoint specializes in both, which is why we’re the leader in wireless home security, and the #1 ranked home alarm company in the US.  When you are ready for peace of mind that is safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat, FrontPoint is your clear choice. And leave the hard work to us – and the police.