FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – There's a neighborhood crime alert for Fleming Island, where armed robbers broke into an apartment, not once, but twice in 30 days, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
The first time, deputies said, the burglars barged into the apartment on May 16 while the tenant was inside. Now, one of three people in that case is behind bars.
Deputies on Monday charged Justin Owens with home invasion with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
It's unclear whether the other two are in custody or if Clay County detectives have identified them because the case is still under investigation, and part of an arrest affidavit has been redacted.
Owens, 20, was already in jail on drug and fugitive charges when detectives said they linked him to the May 16 home invasion at the Fleming Island apartment. Now, he faces additional felony charges.
A neighbor, who News4Jax has chosen not to identify for safety reasons, said she heard the incident unfold.
"This was unusually loud -- a lot of slamming doors, a lot of yelling back and forth," the neighbor said. "And because it rattles windows in the building when that happens, it was pretty noticeable and very disturbing."
The victim told deputies that he was inside the apartment with another person when a woman knocked on the door. When he opened the door, the victim said, two men armed with a handgun and a shotgun barged in. Once inside they rummaged through the apartment and stole a safe containing $1,400 in cash, $100 from another victim’s purse and an $800 watch before running away, according to the arrest affidavit.
The neighbor told News4Jax on Tuesday that she was shocked by what happened.
“As a woman living by herself, it’s very concerning in this neighborhood because it’s a great neighborhood and I felt very safe. I still do to a certain degree, but that’s troubling to see that kind of influence coming into this very quiet neighborhood," she said.
Nearly 30 days after that home invasion, the same apartment was robbed. The second time, the tenant was not home, but had it recorded on surveillance video.
It's unclear as to why that apartment was targeted two times in nearly 30 days. But according to neighbors, there have been lots of parties hosted at the apartment.
