(LibertySociety.com) – In a bizarre incident straight out of Florida lore, a 23-year-old man found himself behind bars after breaking into a home in Winter Haven while reportedly high on methamphetamine. His choice of loot? A carpet cleaner.
Austin Alexander Smith faces charges of burglary after police say he kicked in the front door of a house on 6th St SW at around 1:36 a.m. on Thursday. The commotion startled the homeowners, who were jolted awake by the loud bang. When they went to investigate, they were greeted by the sight of Smith in their living room, shirted but noticeably lacking pants or shoes. Police later reported the bizarre sequence of events.
To make matters stranger, Smith was clutching the family’s carpet cleaner, though his intentions with the device remain a mystery. When confronted, he dropped it and bolted out the door.
Winter Haven police officers quickly responded and found a man matching Smith’s description a few blocks away near Ave. M and 5th St. SW. After detaining him, they brought him back to the scene, where the homeowners identified him as the intruder. Officers noted his state of disarray and confirmed his identity through witness accounts.
Smith, who admitted to being high on meth, told officers he had no memory of the night’s events. Police say he gained access to the home by force, kicking down the door to enter.
This isn’t the first time Florida has made headlines for unusual crimes. The story quickly became another entry in Florida’s long history of bizarre incidents, often involving outlandish behavior and questionable choices.
Smith is now booked in the Polk County Jail, facing charges for burglary of an occupied dwelling. For the homeowners, it’s an unforgettable and unnerving tale of a night disrupted by a pantless, meth-fueled intruder—and a carpet cleaner that somehow became the focal point of the chaos.
While it’s unclear what led to this unusual choice of target and item, it serves as a reminder to always lock your doors—especially in Florida.
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