by MIAMI, FLORIDA — A 21-year-old man has been arrested after police said his fingerprints tied him to a terrifying home burglary in Liberty City, where a 13-year-old girl woke up to find a masked man inside her bedroom.
Authorities say the suspect, identified as Dougelin Jean, was arrested after a series of investigative breakthroughs — including fingerprint evidence, security footage, and the recovery of the victim’s stolen iPhone.
The Frightening Break-In
According to the Miami Police Department, the break-in occurred around 4 a.m. on October 21, at a home located near Northwest 10th Avenue and 48th Street in Liberty City.
Police said the 13-year-old victim woke up to the sound of someone rummaging through her belongings. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man wearing a mask standing in her bedroom. Startled, she screamed and ran to her parents’ room as the suspect fled with her iPhone.
The girl’s father quickly used Apple’s Find My iPhone feature to track the stolen device. The signal led them to a nearby home — the residence of Dougelin Jean, who had just turned 21 that Monday.
Tracking Down the Stolen iPhone
When the father and daughter arrived near Jean’s home, they reportedly saw a man holding the stolen phone. Officers were soon called to the scene and spotted Jean walking away, passing a row of garbage cans before entering his house.
Moments later, Jean and his father came outside. According to the arrest report, Jean denied stealing the iPhone and insisted the phone in his possession was his own — but its description didn’t match the victim’s.
Police said Jean’s father then approached officers and handed over an iPhone in a silver case, claiming he had just found it near the garbage cans where Jean had walked moments earlier. The girl and her father immediately confirmed it was hers by unlocking it with her passcode.
Fingerprints and Surveillance Evidence
Detectives began comparing Jean’s background with the evidence collected from the scene. Investigators said Jean had a history of prior burglary arrests in the same neighborhood, which made him a prime suspect.
A detective also reviewed a still image from a surveillance camera that captured the intruder, and identified Jean as the man seen entering through a window. Fingerprints lifted from that same window later matched Jean’s fingerprints, confirming his involvement in the break-in.
Arrest and Additional Crimes
Jean was taken into custody early Thursday morning after police said he was spotted driving into Sunny Isles Beach in a stolen Toyota Tacoma. Officers from the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department pulled him over in North Miami and discovered a firearm in his possession, despite Jean being a convicted felon.
State prison records show that Jean had only recently been released — in April 2024 — after serving time for battery on a detention facility staff member in Collier County.
At the time of his latest arrest, Jean had multiple open burglary and theft cases pending in Miami-Dade County.
Facing Multiple Felony Charges
Jean now faces an extensive list of new charges, including burglary of an occupied dwelling, grand theft, grand theft auto, and felon in possession of a firearm.
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He is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a bond of more than $36,000, according to county jail records.
During a court hearing on Friday, Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer noted that Jean “has four open cases where he is charged with burglaries and grand thefts,” in addition to the Liberty City break-in.
Jean will remain in custody as he awaits further hearings for all open cases.
Community Reaction and Safety Concerns
The Liberty City community has expressed outrage and concern following the incident, particularly because the break-in occurred while a child was sleeping in her bedroom.
Residents have urged parents to take extra safety measures — including installing motion-sensor lights, door cameras, and securing windows — to prevent similar intrusions. Police are also reminding homeowners to report suspicious activity and to use available technology such as Find My iPhone or neighborhood watch alerts in case of thefts.
As the investigation continues, authorities have praised the quick thinking of both the victim’s family and the responding officers for helping ensure the young girl’s safety and leading to the arrest of a repeat offender.
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