Winter Haven police make arrest in daytime burglary

WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - A lot of people think their home is their castle; a safe haven from the chaos of the world.

A 66-year-old Winter Haven woman just changed her tune after an intruder broke into her house while she was in her bedroom watching TV.

“I thought I was safe,” she told FOX 13. "I am not, and that’s scary.”

We are not naming her or her daughter at their request.

Thursday morning, the woman heard a noise but didn’t think much about it. She blamed her heater, which has been acting up lately.

Actually, it was a man who had used tools to take out the hinges from her side door to get in.

“That could have turned into a bad situation,” commented Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird.

The intruder apparently heard something that spooked him, and he took off. His escapade was caught on exceptionally clear surveillance video. It shows the man enter the living room, then turn around and dash out.

When the homeowner saw the video, reality hit.

“I thought, 'Good God! He must have heard the TV and me back there. He really could have come on back there,'” she said.

But he didn’t.

Winter Haven detectives say they made an arrest Friday night. Darryl Teal, 53, was positively identified by someone who saw the surveillance video. Police say they got numerous tips, including from a family member and a Polk County deputy. 

Detectives found Teal, who is homeless, in the area of 2nd Street and Snively Avenue in Eloise. 

Officers say Teal was wearing the same clothes that he had on in the victim's surveillance video. He was taken to the Winter Haven Police Department but refused to speak with detectives.

At this time, it is unclear if Teal knew the victim.