Florida Man with Machete Takes on 5 Armed Robbers, Wins

A Sarasota, Florida homeowner fought off several gun-wielding home invaders armed with only a machete early Thursday morning, surveillance video shows.

Police responded to a 4:45 a.m. call about a man with a shotgun in a Sarasota neighborhood. The homeowner had already subdued and disarmed the man by the time police arrived.

Home surveillance footage shows that the homeowner first wielded a plank of wood to fend off the robbers before backing into his house and emerging with the machete a moment later.

“Most of the time the best thing to do is to make sure to put yourself in a safe place rather than attack, but you have every right to defend yourself,” said Lt. Brian Gregory of the Sarasota Police Department.

The armed man’s accomplices fled the scene after seeing the homeowner’s prowess with the machete, but were later apprehended in the getaway vehicle at a nearby gas station. One of the suspects was carrying zip ties, which can be used as make-shift handcuffs.

Those arrested include Alen Beltran-Vasquez, charged with two counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Ronier Jauregi-Lorente and Angel Cabrera-Basulto, both charged with two counts of armed robbery each; and Jorge Valido-Leyva and Roberto Selcedo-Balanza, who both face two counts of principal armed robbery.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, but all five men are currently being held at the Sarasota County Jail without bond.

“Some people cower, some people run, some people fight,” Lt. Gregory said. “In this instance here, he chose to fight. It was his home—his prerogative—and he stood up for himself.”

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Contributed by Will Porter of The Daily Sheeple.

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