Authorities say a 19-year-old burglar ransacked a Seminole, Florida home on Tuesday and tried to burn it to the ground.
Images taken by home security cameras show Austin Lang on a mission.
With a large backpack strapped to his shoulders, the 19-year-old is seen heading into a home on Flame Ave. and Starkey Road. Moments later, authorities say he broke into that home and set a small fire in the laundry room.
The family came home to discover the fire and called 911.
“Open the second door to get into the house, and a lot of smoke, very dark, came in,” said one of the homeowners who did not want to be named.
“But then to start a fire and try to burn the house is the extra on top, trying to deal with,” said the other homeowner, who also chose not to be identified.
Once the fire was extinguished, the family realized their house had been ransacked and Bailey, the family dog, was nowhere to be found.
They feared the worse, thinking the intruder took Bailey, but hours later, the traumatized dog was found in hiding.
“Up to seven hours, finally someone found her. Personally, my soul came back, because we found the puppy. She’s a survivor,” the woman said.
News Channel 8 was in a Pinellas County courtroom when Lang appeared before a judge, facing charges of burglary, arson and drugs possession.
His bail is set at $77,000.
According to investigators, Lang does not know the family, who also happen to be his neighbors.
Pinellas detectives are urging anyone who has been the victim of a burglary to call the sheriff’s office.
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