COOPER CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities have arrested a 16-year-old suspected of trying to break into a home in Cooper City.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office on Monday released the footage of the subject seen walking down a street in the Flamingo Lakes Townhomes community, early Monday morning.
On Tuesday, BSO announced that investigators were able to identify the person in the video as the 16-year-old suspect.
According to BSO, the teen on surveillance video attempted to break into several different homes in the community minutes before an attempted sexual battery of a 7-year-old girl took place at another residence.
Julian Padua said he has lived at the Flamingo Lakes Townhomes community for more than 30 years and saw deputies going door to door.
“They walked the whole development. They were looking for signs, I think the guy cut the screen and got in,” said Padua.
“The way he was pinned at the door, I knew something was going on,” said homeowner James Leffler, speaking about his protective German shepherd.
Leffler said he woke to find his dog at a slightly open door. He believes his home was one of several the identified teen tried to break into.
He thinks his dog may have scared him away.
“He might growl, but he will wait for you to come in before he does anything,” Leffler said.
The teen seen in the video has been charged with attempted armed burglary.
However, it remains unclear if he was involved in the attempted sexual battery, as it remains under investigation.
Anyone with information on the attempted sexual battery of the 7-year-old is asked to call BSO Detectives Vanessa Encina or Dimos Charoudis at 954-321-4240. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).
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