JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Imagine being home by yourself at night, sleeping in your bed, when all of a sudden, three armed men are trying to break into your house.
One Jacksonville homeowner doesn’t have to imagine it because it happened to her, and it was caught on video.
The incident happened Thursday around 2 a.m. at a home near the intersection of 46th Street and North Pearl Street on Jacksonville’s Northside.
News4JAX is not identifying the victim because she fears for her life. Several of her neighbors are also worried because they don’t know if they will be targeted next.
Surveillance video given to News4JAX showed the three burglars outside the victim’s window. All three were wearing masks and gloves. Two of the burglars were holding handguns, and the third burglar had what appeared to be an AR-style rifle.
“You want to bust the window?” one of the armed burglars asked, whose question was recorded by the camera.
Seconds later, one of the burglars throws a brick through the window. Seconds after that, as one of the burglars attempted to put his hand through the broken window, he and the other two burglars were seen running away.
It was at that moment that the homeowner woke up and screamed.
“I screamed, and I said [expletive],” said the homeowner, who believes her scream may have scared the burglars away.
Although police quickly arrived at the home and canvassed the area, the armed trio was nowhere to be found. Police believe the attempted burglary was pre-coordinated.
“It’s terrifying. It tells me that they don’t care. They were out and they were coming to hurt and harm whoever they could, just to get whatever they thought they were after. They intended to do something. They didn’t come armed for no reason,” said the homeowner.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney agreed with the victim.
“That is a very lucky lady. The group that came there, armed like they were, dressed like they were, they were not there to steal a DVD player or look for valuables. That is a crew that is set to do bad things,” Hackney said.
What happened early Thursday morning could have ended differently had the three armed burglars made their way into the house. Hackney said that scary moment should serve as a reminder that if you are ever put in that kind of situation, you have every right to use any means necessary to protect yourself.
“If these kinds of guys are outside trying to get in armed like that, you, within the state law, have the right to protect yourself and your family trying to get in because the assumption has to be they would do you harm as they are getting in there,” Hackney said
As for the victim, she is now warning her neighbors to be on alert.
“Keep your eyes open. Stay focused and don’t let your guard down,” said the victim.
If you have information about this incident, you are urged to contact the police at 904-630-0500.
