Group of car burglars caught in the act chased down family at gunpoint who confronted them

SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County family was placed in a dangerous position after coming face-to-face with several young men, who were breaking into cars in their neighborhood.

The startled suspects didn’t run away at first; instead, they ran towards the family and pointed a gun at them.

Nearly every second of the encounter in Sanford was captured by their doorbell camera.

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It happened in November, but investigators have run into roadblocks trying to make an arrest.

Seminole County deputies hope that new video released of one of the men will help crack the case.

A doorbell camera captured a commotion at 1:30 a.m. outside a home at the Chase Groves Villas Townhomes off Kirkland Way.

The family inside came out to investigate and confronted a group of young adults breaking into cars.

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After a few seconds of shouting obscenities, one of the men pulled out a handgun and ordered the family to the ground.

Instead, the family is chased back into the house by the man holding pointing the gun at them.

“We are hopeful that someone may look at this individual who is not fully wearing his mask and has some very unique hair, and be able to recognize this person who is guilty of an armed burglary,” said Bob Kealing with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

Kealing said the suspects are between the ages of 16 and 20 and are part of a car burglary ring operating in the region.

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Although it took the homeowners a confrontation to get a picture of one of the men, Kealing doesn’t recommend it.

“We would just ask that if people see something like this outside their window, stay safely in their home and call 911,” he said.

Anyone with information about is incident is asked the call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407-665-6600 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8447).

Cox Media Group