Destin home invasion rattles neighbors

DESTIN — Residents on Spring Lake Drive are waiting for a suspect in a home invasion and assault last week to be caught.

“I’m concerned,” said a 74-year-old man who asked not to be named because he feared for his safety. “I’m going to get myself a shotgun today.”

To read a copy of the offense report, click here.

A Hispanic man, described as 5-foot, 8-inches tall and stocky, knocked on the door of a home on the 700 block of Spring Lake Drive about 4:25 a.m. Friday, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office report.

When the woman opened the door, the man yelled either “maney” or “money” and then pushed his way into the home, the report said. He then beat the woman with an unknown metal object, causing a two- to three-inch cut on her forehead.

The woman’s teenage daughter heard the commotion and helped the woman get the man out of their home, the report said. He ran toward Beach Drive without taking anything.

Sheriff’s deputies could not find the man after the incident.

The neighborhood around Spring Lake Drive has changed over the years, said longtime resident Peggy Daniels.

“I do hear about this more with the economy,” Daniels said. “There’s so many homes going into foreclosure and going to renters. I don’t know the people any more.”

Residents have begun locking doors, looking around while getting the mail and not opening doors, even to salesmen.

“I’m not the type to get rattled, but this gives you an uneasy feeling,” said Ann Wells, who has lived on Spring Lake Drive for 22 years. “This is really a wake-up call.”

Wells said a Sears salesman came by her home a few days after the assault. With the screen door securely locked, she told the man he would not have much luck on her street.

“I said ‘I’m sure your product is really nice, but this street just had an assault, and no one’s going to be answering the door,’ ” she said.

“We’re all paying more attention, keeping our eyes out.”

Since the break-in, Daniels said she has taken more precautions, such as locking and dead-bolting her doors, locking her car doors and not venturing outside after dark, even to take out the garbage.

“It’s like anywhere,” she said. “I’ve started to take more precautions and be more aware of my surroundings.”