JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Neighbors in Jacksonville’s Murray Hill neighborhood say a man has been targeting front porches for more than a month, stealing bikes, lawn equipment and other items and some residents believe the behavior is escalating into attempted home break-ins.
Multiple residents told News4JAX they have filed police reports and called the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. They also shared doorbell-camera videos they say show the same man entering screened porches and taking property.
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In Ring camera video, a man walks onto a screened porch and takes a bicycle while using a red shirt to cover his face, residents said.
One neighbor on College Street said their first encounter happened when the man was seen peering over a fence and looking toward windows.
“I saw him looking over my fence into my yard and trying to look into my windows,” the neighbor said.
The neighbor said they installed security cameras after that. Two days later, a neighbor across the street reported a bicycle stolen from their yard, the resident said.
Other videos provided by residents appear to show the man stealing lawn lights and lingering around properties late at night, neighbors said.
Because no arrest has been made, News4Jax is not identifying the suspect. Several residents said they believe they know who the person is.
“He’s also been known to try to break into the houses themselves,” another neighbor said.
A resident on Collier Avenue, who did not want to appear on camera, said the man tried to break through glass on their front door on New Year’s Eve.
“We happened to actually catch him at the door, breaking through the threshold through the window of my front door, trying to be able to access himself to the deadbolt,” the resident said.
The resident said they were able to scare the man off and later filed a police report but is still on the lose.
“Just never been able to get a hold of a guy,” the resident said when asked whether a report was filed.
Another neighbor said they worry the situation could become violent.
“He’s kind of a threat to our community. My concern is he’s escalating, it seems like,” the neighbor said. “I’m worried that somebody’s gonna get hurt because JSO’s not responding.”
What JSO says
News4JAX contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for information about the complaints.
Max Morel, a strategic communications representative for JSO, said two incidents had been reported.
Morel also encouraged residents to submit information through JSO’s Unsolved Crimes page on JaxSheriff.org.
“We have the opportunity to put these individuals out there to the public,” Morel said. “Let us try to identify that individual and bring them to justice.”
How to report
If you live in Murray Hill and believe you have been a victim of theft — or if you have video or other evidence — JSO is asking you to report it. Residents can submit information through JaxSheriff.org or call (904) 630-0500.
JSO told News4Jax it is still searching for additional cases that may match the description residents provided.