- Dean Young, 26, was arrested after being trapped inside a vehicle he attempted to burglarize in Hialeah, Florida.
- Surveillance footage captured Young sneaking into a landscaping crew's van before getting locked inside.
- He faces charges of attempted burglary and criminal mischief while being held without bond after a prior theft incident.
HIALEAH, Fla. — Dean Young was apprehended by Hialeah Police on Wednesday afternoon after a failed burglary attempt resulted in him being locked inside the very vehicle he allegedly intended to rob.
The 26-year-old suspect faces charges of attempted burglary and criminal mischief following the incident, which was captured on residential surveillance cameras. Young appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Victoria S. Sigler on Thursday, where he was ordered to remain behind bars.
The Incident
According to police reports and footage from a Ring doorbell camera, the incident occurred near East 19th Street while a landscaping crew was working at a local residence. Young allegedly parked his gray Hyundai next to the crew's work van and snuck into the back of the vehicle.
Unaware that anyone had entered the van, the owner of the landscaping business used his key fob to lock the vehicle. The central locking system secured all doors, including the rear compartment, effectively trapping Young inside.
Discovery and Arrest
Once trapped, Young began shouting for assistance and kicking the interior of the van doors. Homeowner Nercy Toledo, who witnessed the event, recorded audio of Young screaming, "Help me! I'm inside," and "I can't breathe."
Despite Young's pleas and requests not to involve law enforcement, the landscapers maintained the lock on the vehicle until Hialeah Police arrived. Toledo noted that the workers decided to keep the suspect confined because the van contained machetes and other equipment that could have been used as weapons.
When questioned by officers, Young claimed he had entered the truck to seek safety from a dog while handing out business cards. However, authorities stated that the surveillance video contradicted this account, showing Young deliberately approaching and entering the van.
Legal Status and Prior History
At the time of Wednesday's arrest, Young was out on bond for a 2023 case involving the theft of a lawn edger and a weed-whacker. Following this latest incident, he is being held without bond.
The van owner, who mentioned he has a habit of locking his vehicle due to previous burglaries, reported that the truck sustained only minor damages from the suspect's attempts to force the doors open.
For more cases on burglaries gone wrong, check out our video here:
