Police say a Pennsylvania man has turned himself in after repeatedly breaking into a Chester County home while “targeting” a young child.
Jefferson Mejia Gonzalez turned himself in Wednesday afternoon to Coatsville police. He’s been charged with trespassing, burglary, interference with custody of children, harassment, stalking, and criminal mischief.
According to the Coatesville Police Department, Gonzalez is accused of breaking into the home on at least three different occasions. Each intrusion appeared to be focused on the bedroom of a 9-year-old girl residing in the house on Pennsylvania Avenue.
ABC 6 reports that the latest incident occurred on Christmas Eve when a security camera caught the man for the fourth time breaking into the home.
“He’s coming in and having conversations with her,” the girl’s mother, Tiffany Szabara, said.
On Christmas Eve, the camera captured him inside the family’s kitchen area before he walked to the child’s bedroom.
“He’s going straight to my daughter’s bedroom at the top of the stairs and watching her sleep…I even had cash on the counter one day, and he didn’t touch the cash. He just goes into my daughter’s bedroom.”
Szabara added the man got into the home through the rear entrance. The first occurrence happened due to a malfunctioning lock, but the door was inadvertently left unlocked on two other occasions.
In another instance, Gonzalez reportedly entered through a window.
“You know, if this man is so determined to target my daughter, what else could he be doing?” Szabara asked.
The family has since installed additional locks at the home, Szabara said.
Anyone with additional information about Gonzalez is urged to contact the Coatesville Police Department at (610) 383-7000.
He was last known to be operating a gray Toyota Yaris, with the PA registration plate of LGC-7718 Should anyone come into contact with this individual or knows his location, we ask that you call 9-1-1,” Coatesville police said.
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[Feature Photo via Coatesville PD]