ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County deputies are searching for a bold burglar who is targeting an apartment complex near the University of Central Florida.
The most recent break-ins happened last weekend at the Heather Glen Apartments near University Boulevard and Rouse Road ( see map ). During one of the home invasions, a man tried to sexually assault one woman who was home alone.
Initially, all the victim saw was the suspect's flash light. Investigators tell Eyewitness News the suspect then held the woman down and would not let her go. The woman was not injured, but residents at the apartment complex are worried about what could happen if the suspect attacks again.
Orange County deputies say the same man is responsible for at least two violent break-ins and an attempted sexual assault.
Amanda Scalero lives near where one attack happened.
"I've been talking to some friends and I'm probably going to stay with them until spring break and then just go home," said Amanda Scalero, resident.
In that case, an unarmed man broke into the apartment through a back door and went into the victim's bedroom with a flashlight. The victim says he made several sexual advances towards her.
"We do know that he held her for several minutes, maybe half an hour, maybe more. He made some very specific comments," said Jim Solomons with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The suspect got spooked before anything happened and left without physically harming the victim.
Less than an hour later, detectives say he struck again.
"Around 6:00am, there was a couple was asleep in their apartment, same situation. We believe the same man was in that apartment," said Solomons.
Orange County detectives are checking into other past incidents to see if the same man could be responsible for those too.
Eyewitness News found that since February there have been at least five burglaries in the apartment complex, which sits just two miles from the University of Central Florida campus.
"I don't want that happening to me. It's not safe. If it happened to her it can easily happen to me," said Rosa Agosto, resident.
Investigators say they are looking for a man who is approximately 5'10 to 5'11, weighs about 220 pounds and has long braids in his hair. He was last seen wearing dark, baggy jeans and a dark sweatshirt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
WFTV
