Police have arrested a man in Pennsylvania after a surveillance camera allegedly caught him breaking into a home multiple times to watch a 9-year-old girl sleep. The child's mother, Tiffani Szabara, shared the footage with police after Jefferson Mejia Gonzalez, 24, allegedly entered the home on Christmas Eve. Gonzalez reportedly turned himself in to police after the footage began to circulate on social media.
Szabara told CBS News Philadelphia that she was afraid the man might try to abduct her daughter. Gonzalez, who Szabara claims is a stranger to the family, now faces a bevy of charges.
More from CafeMom: Cops Say Stranger Broke into Home, Stole Nothing, & Cleaned It Top to Bottom
The first time Gonzalez allegedly entered her home, Szabara thought it was a mistake.
The concerned mother told Fox 29 that Gonzalez allegedly broke into her home the first time in September 2023 and has again at least three times since then. "We kind of assumed the first incident was just some man that was drunk and wandered into the wrong house," Szabara said via the news station.
Police knocked on her door after neighbors called about seeing a suspicious person on her property.
"It was kinda surreal. They had to check the house to make sure he wasn't still inside," she said, according to Fox 29.
The family installed surveillance cameras.
Gonzalez allegedly continued to break into the house even after the landlord reinforced the locks and she installed a camera, Szabara told Fox 29. The man reportedly tried to talk to the little girl at least once, Szabara said.
"The first thing he said to her was, 'Would you go with me?' She said, 'No, I'm not stupid. Get out of my house.'"
The frightened mother turned over footage of the intruder to police on December 24.
Police issued an alert asking for help identifying the suspect.
The Coatesville Police Department shared still shots from video surveillance reportedly taken in Szabara's home.
"We are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the subject in the photos below," the post reads. "It has been reported that he has broken into a residence on Pennsylvania Ave multiple occasions. Like many, we are concerned and patrol officers & detectives are interested in obtaining additional information."
Tipsters reportedly flooded police with information.
Coatesville police issued an update identifying Gonzalez as a suspect, along with a description of his vehicle, a gray Toyota Yaris. Gonzalez turned himself in to police on December 27, per CBS News Philadelphia. He reportedly had no comment in regard to his arrest or charges.
"Somebody knew this guy because, in reference to the tip that was received, you can tell that it was from someone that knew about this guy and what he was doing," Coatesville Detective Jose Colon said, according to ABC 6.
More from CafeMom: Masked Man Shot & Killed Florida Mom of 2 in Front of Her Children During Home Invasion
He faces multiple charges.
According to police, Gonzalez was charged with "burglary, criminal trespassing, interference with the custody of children, criminal mischief, harassment and stalking," CBS News Philadelphia reported. He is being held on a $150,000 bond. Police are investigating a tip that Gonzalez may have lived on the same street as the family, according to ABC 6.
