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MIAMI BEACH, FL — A Miami Beach homeowner armed himself and confronted a burglar who broke into his property early on the morning of February 27th, leading to a swift police response and a large-scale manhunt that ended with the suspect’s arrest. The only stolen items reported? Several yogurts from the family’s refrigerator.
According to WSVN, the incident unfolded at a residence along Pine Tree Drive near 43rd Street. Homeowner Babba Joshua Yesharim was alerted to the intruder’s presence after his dog began barking and a home alarm sounded. Checking his surveillance system, Yesharim saw a man on his property and quickly took action.
Yesharim armed himself, provided a firearm to his wife, and went to confront the prowler. Dressed in a bathrobe, flashlight in one hand and handgun in the other, Yesharim came face-to-face with the intruder near his front door.
“I pulled my gun on him, I told him, ‘Freeze. I’ve got a gun. I will shoot you,’” Yesharim told WSVN. The man immediately fled, scaling a neighboring wall to escape.
Adding to the home’s defense, Yesharim’s house manager—also armed, this time with a shotgun—stood ready to assist if needed. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and the intruder escaped uninjured.
The suspect’s flight triggered a massive police response involving Miami Beach Police, SWAT teams, K-9 units, and a Miami-Dade Police helicopter. Officers even deployed a police boat to cover nearby waterways. Eventually, the suspect, identified as Jose Santospena, was located hiding in a nearby vacant lot and taken into custody.
Despite the dramatic confrontation and manhunt, Santospena’s only confirmed theft was several yogurts taken from the family’s refrigerator.
“He took a few
of my kids’ yogurts, from all we can find,” Yesharim said. “He could have taken—or tried to take—a lot more. I assume he wasn’t there just for yogurt.”
Santospena was charged with occupied burglary and remains held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.
This unusual case underscores the importance of home security and preparedness. While the intruder only took yogurt, there’s no way to predict how situations like this will unfold. Homeowners who lawfully arm themselves and respond quickly—while coordinating with police—can help ensure their families’ safety. As always, it’s critical to know your local self-defense laws and only use force when legally justified.
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