24/04/2026
Homeless man breaks into million-dollar waterfront home, tells deputies he planned to live there.
This case involves a homeless man who was arrested after breaking into a multi-million dollar waterfront mansion in Apollo Beach, Florida, with the intent to stay there.
Here are the key details of the incident:
Identity and Arrest: The suspect was identified as Betancourt, a homeless man. He was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office after the homeowner, who did not know him, reported his presence inside.
Chronology of Events:
Betancourt forced his way inside by breaking a side door off its hinges.
Video footage shows him roaming the home wearing latex gloves.
Once inside, he rummaged through the homeowner's personal belongings, turned on a ceiling fan, and used a microwave to heat up the victim's food.
Motive: During questioning by deputies, he openly stated that he broke into the home because he planned to settle down and live in the waterfront mansion.
Legal Charges: He was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, criminal mischief, and petit theft.
Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized that claiming someone else's home as one's own is unacceptable and praised the use of body cameras that recorded the entire arrest as evidence of the deputies' hard work in the field.
Homeless man breaks into million-dollar waterfront home, tells deputies he planned to live there.
This case involves a homeless man who was arrested after breaking into a multi-million dollar waterfront mansion in Apollo Beach, Florida, with the intent to stay there.
Here are the key details of the incident:
Identity and Arrest: The suspect was identified as Betancourt, a homeless man. He was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office after the homeowner, who did not know him, reported his presence inside.
Chronology of Events:
Betancourt forced his way inside by breaking a side door off its hinges.
Video footage shows him roaming the home wearing latex gloves.
Once inside, he rummaged through the homeowner's personal belongings, turned on a ceiling fan, and used a microwave to heat up the victim's food.
Motive: During questioning by deputies, he openly stated that he broke into the home because he planned to settle down and live in the waterfront mansion.
Legal Charges: He was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, criminal mischief, and petit theft.
Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized that claiming someone else's home as one's own is unacceptable and praised the use of body cameras that recorded the entire arrest as evidence of the deputies' hard work in the field.
