Residents tackle, hold down burglary suspect in Orlando neighborhood

ORLANDO, Fla. — Neighbors stepped into action after a man came home to find a stranger burglarizing his house.

Orange County deputies said those neighbors helped catch the suspected thief, who had been stealing from homes in the area for months.

The neighbors were able to hold the suspect, Albert Velazquez, until deputies arrived to the East Orange County home in the Andover Cay subdivision near Curry Ford Road.

Deputies said Velazquez was caught on surveillance videos in the past stealing packages off porches.

“We surrounded him. Every place that he could get to, we surrounded him,” said William Jimenez.

Jimenez was one of many who tackled and cornered Velazquez.

He said the homeowner walked in on Velazquez in the act.

“He had just come back from the gym. Found him in the kitchen and he chased him,” Jimenez said. “Luckily we were there to help out.”

Once authorities had Velazquez in custody they found a checkbook in his pocket that came from the house next door.

Deputies also remembered his face from surveillance video months earlier, where he was allegedly stealing packages from a house around the corner.

“The first time I was pretty upset, and the second time when he showed up wearing what he stole the first time, I couldn’t believe it,” said resident Marc Barriger.

Deputies said they are also looking into more burglaries around the neighborhood that Velazquez could be linked to.

They also said he used to live in the Andover Cay neighborhood.

WFTV