JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Surveillance video from a home burglary on the Westside last Wednesday shows a man stealing from a garage with a young boy alongside him. Late Monday police said they have made an arrest in the case, but his name and details were not released.
"God forbid he meets a homeowner who is armed and ready to use it," said Samuel Onwujiobi, who lives at the home that was burglarized. "He's putting that kid in the line of fire."
The burglary happened at a home on Cliff Cottage Drive, near Blanding Boulevard and Collins Road.
Onwujiobi said he's upset his chainsaw was stolen, but he's much more worried about the boy, who had nothing to do with the crime and was put into a terrible situation.
"I can't begin to think of the possibilities of what could have gone wrong," Onwujiobi said.
He said the man stole his $560 chainsaw with the young boy steps behind him.
"In the video, I'm thinking he's about 2 to 3 years of age, a young boy," Onwujiobi said. "And it was just too disturbing. The chainsaw took a backstage after we saw the kid in the surveillance video."
The burglary happened in broad daylight. Onwujiobi said he had only been home for four minutes. He stopped in before going to pick his kids up from day care.
The thief walked onto the property and into the garage, quickly scoped it out, found the chainsaw, picked it up and walked out -- all in just 11 seconds.
"We don't want any child to be harmed, and obviously when you bring a child along and you decide whether at that moment to commit a crime, or you have it planned and you are going to commit a crime, it is a very serious thing," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda. "You do not know what the intentions are. He may be going in just to steal the chainsaw. The guy may come out with a gun defending his own house and property, and it could've been a very dangerous situation for that child to be in."
Records show since the beginning of the year, there have been 44 burglaries within a mile of the home (see crime map), and several in the same subdivision.
Anthony Queen said someone stole nearly $500 worth of lawn equipment from him.
"It was during the day, possibly around 1 or 2 o'clock maybe," Queen said.
Onwujiobi, who has two children of his own, said he's worried about the boy who was put into a bad position.
"There is a mother out there whose child is being taken into this situation," he said.
Both homeowners who had their belongings stolen said they'll never leave their garage doors open again. One of them also locked up everything he owns inside the garage.
The surveillance video shows an older green car passing the home several times minutes before the burglary.