JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Neighbors in Jacksonville\u2019s Murray Hill neighborhood say a man has been targeting front porches for more than a month, stealing bikes, lawn equipment and other items and some residents believe the behavior is escalating into attempted home break-ins.<\/p>\n
Multiple residents told News4JAX they have filed police reports and called the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office. They also shared doorbell-camera videos they say show the same man entering screened porches and taking property.<\/p>\n
In Ring camera video, a man walks onto a screened porch and takes a bicycle while using a red shirt to cover his face, residents said.<\/p>\n
One neighbor on College Street said their first encounter happened when the man was seen peering over a fence and looking toward windows.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw him looking over my fence into my yard and trying to look into my windows,\u201d the neighbor said.<\/p>\n
The neighbor said they installed security cameras after that. Two days later, a neighbor across the street reported a bicycle stolen from their yard, the resident said.<\/p>\n
Other videos provided by residents appear to show the man stealing lawn lights and lingering around properties late at night, neighbors said.<\/p>\n
Because no arrest has been made, News4Jax is not identifying the suspect. Several residents said they believe they know who the person is.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s also been known to try to break into the houses themselves,\u201d another neighbor said.<\/p>\n
A resident on Collier Avenue, who did not want to appear on camera, said the man tried to break through glass on their front door on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe happened to actually catch him at the door, breaking through the threshold through the window of my front door, trying to be able to access himself to the deadbolt,\u201d the resident said.<\/p>\n
The resident said they were able to scare the man off and later filed a police report but is still on the lose. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust never been able to get a hold of a guy,\u201d the resident said when asked whether a report was filed.<\/p>\n
Another neighbor said they worry the situation could become violent.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s kind of a threat to our community. My concern is he\u2019s escalating, it seems like,\u201d the neighbor said. \u201cI\u2019m worried that somebody\u2019s gonna get hurt because JSO\u2019s not responding.\u201d<\/p>\n
What JSO says<\/p>\n
News4JAX contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office for information about the complaints.<\/p>\n
Max Morel, a strategic communications representative for JSO, said two incidents had been reported.<\/p>\n
Morel also encouraged residents to submit information through JSO\u2019s Unsolved Crimes page on JaxSheriff.org.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the opportunity to put these individuals out there to the public,\u201d Morel said. \u201cLet us try to identify that individual and bring them to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
How to report<\/p>\n