Homeowner stops armed would-be robbers with machete

Victim holds suspect until law enforcement officers arrive

SARASOTA, Fla. – A Sarasota man stopped an armed robbery at his home after arming himself with a machete and holding one of the suspects until law enforcement officers arrived.

Surveillance video shows three men -- armed with a shotguns drawn -- storming the home. The homeowner disappears for a few moments and reappears armed with the machete, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

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Deputies said the other two men left and were found a short time later at a gas station with two other men. One of the men was carrying several zip ties, deputies said.

Detectives said two of the men admitted to committing the robbery.

The Sheriff's Office said the two men not seen in the surveillance video helped to coordinate the robbery.

All five suspects -- Alen Beltran-Vasquez, Ronier Jauregui-Lorente, Angel Cabrera-Basulto, Jorge Valido-Leyva and Roberto Salcedo-Balanza -- were arrested and remain in the Sarasota County jail without bond.

The investigation is ongoing.


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Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.