Texas man uses two‑way camera to scare off burglars from vacant oceanfront home
Three heavily disguised men were thwarted, but their attempt has stirred fresh concern among neighbors, help MCSO find them..
A burglary attempt by three men whose faces and bodies were covered head to toe has raised worries among neighbors in an area where security has rarely been a concern. We have asked the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office whether similar cases have been reported recently. So far, none are known, but we are continuing to check. We will report back when the Sheriff’s Office responds.
The exact location of the home is confidential, but we can say it is a spectacular oceanfront property between Fort Bragg and Mendocino. After tracking down the incident and speaking with several people, we confirmed that the man — whom we will call Kelly — monitors the house for his parents using a Ring two‑way camera. When the system alerted him to three masked men breaking in, Kelly picked up his phone in Texas and spoke through the device, telling the intruders they were being recorded and that the Sheriff’s Office had been called. The men immediately left, and nothing was taken.
The quick response was fortunate, as deputies arrived within ten minutes, at 9:10 p.m. WOW! No arrests have been made. We have requested additional information from Mendocino County Sheriff’s Capt. Quincy Cromer and will update this story when the department provides further details. Deputies also cruised back through at midnight, continuing to search the area for the suspects or evidence of them.
Several things about this case prompted us to do legwork and confirm all of this.
- The men came without being seen. A neighbor has a camera and recorded that they did not drive to the crime scene. Did they sneak in from the oceanfront? This seems possible and disconcerting.
- They entered the home through the least secure place- making people think they may have known the property somehow. Seems like we should put the word out and get folks to help the MCSO catch them!
The owner of the property asked that no identifying information be published, but we can confirm that additional cameras have since been installed and the local neighborhood watch has shifted into high gear. Several others on the same road have taken similar precautions, adding lighting, upgrading security systems, and coordinating more closely with one another.
Have info? Call the MCSO.
To report a crime to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, dial 911 for emergencies or (707) 463-4411 for immediate police dispatch for non-emergencies.
Kelly reported this incident immediately to the Sheriff’s Office, and we urge all residents to report any criminal activity directly to law enforcement. If you have information related to this case or similar activity in the area, you may also email frankhartzell@gmail.com. Any crime‑related information shared with us will, as always, be forwarded to the proper authorities.
