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In a shocking turn of events, an Orange County family experienced a harrowing home invasion over the weekend, leaving them rattled and the community on high alert. On the evening of December 9, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a brazen burglar targeted a residence in Westminster, making off with thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry, and sentimental items.
The perpetrator, captured on surveillance video, entered the home through a second-story window, leaving the family feeling violated and unsafe in their own home. The victim, Sandy Le, described the distressing scene upon returning home: "Everything was in disarray. There were things all over the ground, and that's when my mom said, 'Oh, someone was in the house.'"
The security footage revealed the thief ruthlessly ransacking the home, spending around 30 minutes scouring through closets and drawers. Among the stolen items were not only valuable possessions but also sentimental treasures, including a necklace passed down from Le's grandmother. "He also took things that were sentimental to us like a necklace that my grandma gave to my mom," Le lamented.
The burglar's audacity was further highlighted as he navigated through the house, descending from Le's second-story bedroom and exiting through the garage door. What makes this incident particularly chilling is that Le revealed the intruder departed merely three minutes before her parents arrived home, raising concerns about what might have transpired had they encountered the burglar.
"We feel violated, paranoid," Le said. "Being home alone sometimes, before I would feel comfortable, but now every time I hear a noise, I'm like, 'Who is it?'"
Disturbingly, Westminster police currently have no leads on the suspect's identity. However, Le, armed with footage from Ring cameras in the neighborhood, suspects that the same individual attempted to break into another home less than two miles away on the same night.
"From the footage that we saw, he went to several places in one day," Le disclosed.
As the investigation unfolds, the Le family faces the grim reality that the chances of recovering their stolen items are slim. Despite this, Sandy Le emphasizes a more significant concern: apprehending the suspect before he targets another home.
"Honestly, if we can get our things back that would be great, but at this point, we just see it as doing good karma that no one gets hurt and has to go through this," she stated.
Compounding the tragedy is the revelation that some of the stolen money belonged to Le's parents' hard-earned retirement fund. After years of tireless work, sacrificing vacations and dedicating six to seven days a week to saving, the family now faces the emotional and financial toll of the burglary.
The incident remains under active investigation, and authorities urge anyone with information on the suspect to contact the Westminster Police at 714-898-3315. As the community rallies together in solidarity, heightened awareness and vigilance become paramount in the collective effort to ensure the safety and security of Orange County residents.