Home invasions on the rise in Clermont

Four Corners area residents start installing security systems

CLERMONT, Fla. – It's a pattern among many home invasion victims-they take steps to prevent a crime after the  crime has been committed.

Local 6 found that to be the case in Clermont. Since mid-February, Local 6 found at least five home break-ins on the same street in the Four Corners area.

Professional wood carver Andrew Mutiso uses special tools from Kenya to make masterpieces that are sold at stores at Epcot and Animal Kingdom, but thieves turned his tools on his home.

Mutiso says the suspects used his file, knife and hammer.

"They were trying to open the safe, but they couldn't do it," said Mutiso.

Instead they bent and broke the tools. When they couldn't open the safe, they just pried it from his dresser and that wasn't all.

"My wedding ring, my wife's too. So now we have nothing," said Mutiso.

ADT Representative Lori Bayliss says half of her home security clients call after they've been robbed.

"In the good neighborhoods, in the not so good neighborhoods. It's everywhere," said Bayliss.

Mutiso is not the only one getting a security system. A house that was hit five doors down, as well as his next door neighbor are all getting alarms.

The Silva family has also now installed a lock on their back gate. They would not talk on camera, but finger print powder is still on their windowsill where someone broke in.

The thief locked their dog, Coobie, in a closet, before stealing jewelry and electronics.

"It does something in here to them that doesn't go away," said Bayliss.

For Mutiso, he will now buy new tools, but he said buying peace of mind for his family is a lot harder.


About the Author:

Lisa Bell has been in Central Florida since 2007, covering the big stories that impact our community. Lisa was promoted to News 6 evening news co-anchor in May 2014.

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