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Hungry Homeless Man Arrested For Stealing Food From Alabama Home
August 5, 2011
A homeless man was arrested late Thursday afternoon in Escambia County, Ala., after a woman came home to find him stealing food from her home.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office said a resident of Ashcraft Lane, near Fountain Correctional, apparently interrupted the burglary in progress when she arrived home. The man, later identified as 53-year old Timothy Dueitt of Leakesville, Miss., was located after a manhunt involving numerous departments, a District Attorney’s Office helicopter, and K-9 units from Fountain Prison and the Escambia County (Fla.) Road Prison. Dueitt was taken into custody without incident.
Dueitt told deputies he was homeless and walking in the area when be became hungry. Deputies said he stole a variety of food items from home.
He was charged with first degree burglary, third degree theft of property and unlawful possession of brass knuckles.
Comments
51 Responses to “Hungry Homeless Man Arrested For Stealing Food From Alabama Home”
Times are tough but they are going to get worse. We have to protect ourselves and our families. This man now has, as the old saying goes, 3 hots and a cot.
I hope the person he obtained the funds from is ok.
This story makes me appreciate two things. #1 I am not homeless and #2 I am not hungry. What happened to family and true friends watching out for each other? This may not be the case in this situation, but times sure are changing.
come on people, wake up….didn’t some individuals just get arrested for home invasion/robbery that got two very innocent people killed? some of you don’t seem to know how to argue…home invasion is against the law. i don’t care what the person’s reason is…if he breaks in my house, and has weapons he can kill me with, he is a dead duck. as i read all these comments, seems like a lot of you just jumped on the bandwagon without seeing the whole story. he had weapons. he had money. this lady and her daughter are very lucky to be alive. thank you law enforcement for an outstanding job.
REGARDING:
“And Jesus said to feed the poor and house the homeless”
So if a man with money and weapons breaks into a lady’s home and steals from her, what does Jesus say was his purpose?
Jesus said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
If a person will steal, will he lie? If a man says he just wanted food, does that explain drinking the lady’s whiskey? If he has money, can’t he buy food? Must he destroy?
Jesus said those who had mercy on his people would be blessed, but he didn’t claim thieves were his children. We see in I Corinthians 6:10 that thieves are listed among the cursed.
It’s interesting how some can’t make the distinction between the actions of an armed thief who has money and the needs of the poor who ask for help.
Christ promised blessings to those who helped the needy. He didn’t order anybody to accommodate thieves. In fact he stated that people would watch out for thieves, not to give them what they wanted but to stop their destruction. He whipped the money changers in the temple for changing a house of prayer into a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:13) As he hung between two thieves, he saved one who repented, seems to have left the unrepentant one lost. (Matthew 27:38)
I sometimes wonder if the reason so many don’t understand the difference between right and wrong is parents who think teaching such concepts would be “judgmental” and unChristian rather than the godly duties of good parents.
David considering the words of life
Your right. This homeless hungry burglar is harmless, but he would need
to protect him self from other homeless men because they are not.
Makes perfect sense to me.
And Jesus said to feed the poor and house the homeless…judge not lest ye be judged…I’m not religious but those are 2 good sayings..He may have had weapons to protect himself from other homeless people…everybody’s a genius on here..in their own mind…are you sure you’re not in Congress???
Well good thing he did not break into my home, he would have been DRT.
It always amazes me when people stick up for the actor instead of the
victim. Really says a lot about people in my opinion. @ Ashcraft lane
I am going to e-mail william with my offer of assistance to you. If he
will cooperate and pass my message on maybe I can help. That’s
what neighbors are for.
I vote for Sandra LOL she has the right idea, keep your gun handy. I got some stuff stolen out of my yard recently, it’s not a good feeling to know some one has plundered in your stuff and helped themselves,but it sure feels good knowing that if they come while I’m home they will leave on a stretcher. It feels even creepier coming home wondering if there is someone waiting on you. So good for the LEOs they are doing their job. For everyone who wants to speculate about this guy, how do you all know that he didn’t have some really dastardly plans for after dinner?
Women use your heads’ don’t open your door to feed thes strangers. Hunger may only be a ruse to get you to open the door, if you care, call the law let them help these guys out, or not. The LEO’s don’t have to take them to jail they can take them to Lakeview or to a shelter depending, we forget that police are supposed to be our friends, we teach our children that. Do we still do that?
I find the fact he had $200.00 and was stealing unacceptable! This man could be suffering mental problems? I see his powers of deliberation strong and reasoning who knows? Im no doctor.
He stole it from the compassionate individuals that have nothing better to do with their money than give it to scam artists and bums. Like the guy that PUSHES his wheelchair to the corner of nine mile and 29 then sits in it all day playing on the sympathy of others. At 4 oclock he stands up and pushes the wheelchair home with all of his tax free money. Dont enable these people!!
The poor hungry man could have bought a lot of food with $200. Wonder who he stole that from.
Also, when they caught him, he had $200.00 in change on him. The change did not come from my home.
Another thing, for those that feel so sorry for him, maybe he will come kicking in your backdoor next time. Maybe he will babysit your 2 year olds while you cook. Cause obviously, carrying a crowbar and brass knuckles meant he was just gonna protect himself against all the scary theives of the world.
And if he was “hungry or thirsty” , he should have pawned his brass knuckles and crowbar for a happy meal!
I just want to thank mostly everyone again on here for your understanding and concern. Your comments are making me feel better. And there was a loaded weapon in the house but luckily I caught him before he had time to find it. That was a blessing. My dog is pregnant to, we have a vet trip coming up, hopefully her puppies will be OK. Thanks once again
I am so glad that the mother or child were not hurt when they walked in on this man! However, for the people that say “no compassion, feed him, etc” take a few seconds and think of how you would react if you walked in on a stranger going through your personal belongings! I bet you wouldn’t be so quick to say “poor guy”! It would scare me enough that from now on I would be carrying my registered firearm in with me when I came home!
Ask me for food and what I have is yours. Break in to take it and you may get more than you bargained for . Scare a child or hit my dog and there is no doubt that I will do my best to make you regret ever laying eyes on my home.
EMD said:
And, if they have no food and no clean clothes and no address to put on the “forms,” what do they do?
They go to any of the dozens of churches in our area who have ministry closets for food and clothes. Some have programs for job assistance as well. What they DON”T do is break in and steal, terrorize a child, beat a dog and make a lady afraid in her own home.
Another missed opportunity for a homeowner to take a home invader out of the gene pool. It’s to bad that she wasnt home and pointing a remington 870 loaded with buckshot at him as he forcefully broke into her house!…..Hows that for judging him folks.
To Molino-Anon: Yes, we should be compassionate but with as much violence on our streets, I for one will not open my door to anyone I do not know. That’s just asking for trouble!!!! There are places to go for help when you need it and a private resident is NOT the place when the door is beaten in and a family pet hurt!
Who’s to really say what he would have done to the woman, if she had been in the house, unaware of his presence? He didn’t have a gun or knife but he was still armed with brass knuckles. Those who qoute the Bible– how about, Thou shalt not steal?
The lady did the right thing to call the police. The man broke into her house! That shows he isn’t a decent law abiding citizen, he had brass knuckles too. She is lucky she and her daughter (or dog) weren’t hurt or killed. What was she supposed to do, sit down alone with this strange man and have dinner? Is that what you would recomend your wives and daughters to do?
If I was hungry I sure wouldn’t break into a house. Go to the waterfront mission or something or God forbid work.
I just don’t believe his story. I think he was just getting started on whatever he was going to steal or do and she interrupted him early. Notice she said he helped himself to some Seagram’s too.
Thank God she is OK.
i
i
REGARDING:
“There are none on this earth even remotely qualified to judge another human being.”
So you believe God was wrong to set up judges such as Moses? And you believe Moses was wrong to listen to Jethro when he told him to set up judges?
(Exodus chapter 18 for those who’ve never read it)
You’d’ve thought the Lord would’ve mentioned it to Moses sometime in their forty year stretch together.
David doubting God was wrong
MolinoGurl*, if a man broke into your house would you assume that he meant you no harm and just wanted food? Has your house ever been broken into for that matter? Have you ever felt that particular feeling of violation? And, before you ask, yes, my house has been broken into. If law enforcement isn’t called when a break in occurs there would be far more breakins than there already are. If someone will go so far as to kick in a door then they probably would do the same to you. He didn’t wait around to say, I’m sorry. I was just hungry. He ran. And, let me point out, he left through a cornfield. If he had been REALLY hungry why didn’t he grab a few ears of corn instead of damaging and stealing someone’s property?
Being homeless and hungry does not make it okay to break into someone’s home. He scared the heck out of the lady who lived there, and has most likely left trauma in his path. Who knows what else he would have taken if she had not come home before he had time to plunder.
I will feed anyone who asks, but breaking into my home will only earn you an early demise.
MolinoGirl – actually I DO believe in helping people. And I WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM IF HE HAD ASKED. INSTEAD HE KICKS IN MY BACK DOOR, TAKES MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FOOD AND SNACKS AND HELPS HIMSELF TO A FEW SEAGRAMS. HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU FEEL WALKING IN ON A MAN IN YOUR KITCHEN IN YOUR HOME WITH BRASS KNUCKLES. WHO ALSO, BY THE WAY, BEAT MY DOG OFF HIM WITH EITHER HIS CROW BAR OR BRASS KNUCKLES, WHILE BREAKING IN MY HOUSE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND NOW HAVE TO FIX A DOOR, WALL, LOCKS, ALONG WITH BILLS AND DAYCARE. HOW CAN YOU JUDGE ME AND NOT EVEN KNOW ME? THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE SUPPORT AND CONCERN FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER!
It was wrong for him to break into the woman’s home for sure!!! If he would have waited till she got home and asked for some food, she probably would have turned him away instead of helping him…She could have just fed him if he was no harm to her instead of having him arrested…Were all supposed to HELP people and be more compassionate…
To EMD regarding
“My dear David Huie Green: I love your hawkish diligence in watching for something you can disagree with.”
You are absolutely right. There are none on this earth even remotely qualified to judge another human being. I believe this poor man was merely hungry, but, just as the rest of us, I know nothing of this man. Consider this….he could have ransacked and looted the place, but instead he went for the food.
However, the only judgement that will matter is when we stand before our Lord.
And before others start slamming me for my comments, let me say this—
I am saved, not perfect.
It is sad that people are breaking in to houses to steal food. This man ran law enforcement and dogs on a 2+ mile run , therefore he is capable of working at some kind of job support himself. Certainly no disability there. The house was WAY off the beaten path. We may never know why he was that far out of town. Government handouts are the reason we have, and will have, many more break ins. People have been trained to wait for the mailman to deliver a check rather than be trained to make an honest living. If a person wants to make an honest living they will do it whatever kind of job they have to take. Ask yourself this question, If the woman’s dog had not been between her and him what would he have done to save himself?
Ashcraft Lane. I can understand your point too. I know you must have been frightened. Any of us probably would have been. My remarks were made to those judging someone they do not know and assuming his motives. He may have just been hungry. He may have been a serial killer. My point is that we do not know, but everyone wants to judge. I am glad he is caught and you are ok. Thank God.
Also would like to give never ending thanks to everyone who helped catch this man. Everyone that was on duty and on call that night, sheriff’s dept.,dog teams, police, EVERYONE! I deeply appreciate you protecting me and my daughter.
I don’t even know where to start or what to say relating to this article and some peoples comments. Only God knows how scared I was when I unlocked my front door and walked into my home with my two year old daughter on my hip and hear someone stumbling through my home. I believe what kept the Guy from harming Me was my 2 year old pitbull, emoni. She is truly a blessing. Its also a blessing that my daughter ty and I were not harmed or killed. And now to read that he had brass knuckles on him, smh, I am so thankful that we’re all OK.
My dear David Huie Green: I love your hawkish diligence in watching for something you can disagree with. In this case you may be correct. Then, again, you may not. One shoe does not fit all. I did not even say it was right. I said it was understandable. Some are so emotionally and/or mentally devastated, that they cannot think straight or even hold down a job. And, if they have no food and no clean clothes and no address to put on the “forms,” what do they do? It is easy to sit in judgement of someone whose shoes we have not worn. I think I have been thru this area in which this offence was committed. I don’t remember seeing any stores to beg from. Most would not open their door to a stranger now days. Maybe he wanted to be arrested so he COULD at least get food,. and maybe help (somehow) to find a job. Who knows? Certainly….neither of us. The principle remains. We do not know his story. Wrong act. But, no anger here.
EMD against dying compassion for the less blessed (even if it is their own fault). Jesus died for our sorry sinful selves. And if you think all of us are not sorry, just wait til you see us next to His Holiness. Our own righteousness= filthy rags.
Home invasion is home invasion, if not corrected, anyone can say ok, that was easy, I think it can be done again,,,, It is not okay, there is plenty of places to ask for assistance for food, shelter, etc. Bet You he wouldn’t hesitate hurting someone if they would have been home. For our law enforcements! JOB WELL DONE. They don’t like running thru the woods, and taking flight and chasing these characters. They have familys too, in addition seeing that the communities are safe.
A thief is a thief to me…that house sure is very isolated for him to have happened across. Why leave a main road and go to an isolated area?! He probably only said he was hungry and stealing food when he got caught.
I’m Glad it wasn’t your house,,,,,, If he just wanted food he could have asked Someone,,,,and it hotdogs for Fla Dogs,,,Thanks to the dogs,,,
Hey OOPS,
I know for a fact these Florida dogs do not care anything about a biscuit, they like raccoons and fortunately for them the suspect was wearing a coon skin cap. These are coon dogs not biscuit dogs.
I’m just kidding too! These dogs and thier handlers did a great job and should be very proud. They tracked a long way in this crazy heat. Great job to both teams.
Wonder what the total cost was for this arrest. Plus legal fees and housing for the state or county. A 25 minute helicopter ride to the hospital was $16,000.00 last time I rode one. Manpower included it may have cost the Escambia County people about that amount. The next time we have a real need , we may not can afford it.
To “WASTE OF MONEY”,
If it was your house you would cry, cry, and cry some more if they didn’t try everything they had to catch this guy. NOW!!!!
Did the Fla. prisons dogs come back after they threw out the biscuits ?
Just kidding.
Good job all.
Leakesville,MS? Is that the same town that the guy who shot the three or four deputies was from? For some reason that sounds familiar.
If anyone knocked on my door saying they were hungry I would feed them, I can not turn away a starving animal, much less a starving human being. I hate a thief in the same sense, I’d much rather be asked for something than someone just take it.
Hopefully the woman wasn’t too upset over the home invasion and can forgive him, and he can get the help he needs. At least get toward a city with a shelter, or a place to pick up food donations, and man power to start earning some money to buy his own meals.
REGARDING:
“The poor have pride too. Ashamed to ask? Probably. ”
I have my pride, therefore I’ll steal from you?
Makes perfect sense. Might even be the reason he’s homeless in the first place: too much pride to work for an irritating boss,
or too much pride to work for a low wage,
or too much pride to work an a lowly job,
or too much pride to stay in Mississippi,
or too much pride to see a psychiatrist.
He probably wasn’t looking for other things to steal too, because he’s obviously an honest person.
Stealing from unsuspecting women is much better.
David considering the honor of theft
of taking what others worked for
“manhunt involving numerous departments, a District Attorney’s Office helicopter, and K-9 units from Fountain Prison and the Escambia County (Fla.) Road Prison.”
Was all this necessary for a food thief? Yes he should be caught if possible but helicopters? I would think these depts had other things to spend their money on.
Technically wrong, but understandable. The poor have pride too. Ashamed to ask? Probably.
“Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;”
Proverbs 6:30
Is.58
In response to Jane’s comment, “Obviously the government won’t feed us”.
Do you believe that the government has a responsibility to feed us? Really???
I’m truly speechless.
Nobody ever has to steal anything. I do not feel sorry for anyone who
comes here and tries to just bust in your home and help himself.
He could have stopped many places and yelled through the door at
some woman home and absolutely many would make him food.
I would have told him to go sit and wait 100 foot from the door and
made him two sandwiches, a cup of soup and a gallon jar of iced
milk or water, what ever he preferred or I felt like. I would have set it
out the door with some cookies and expected him to eat and move
on. Listen to you bleeding hearts and you will know, we all would
have responded, possibly to our demise if this character is of so
little respect for others.
Thou shalt not steal.
We have failed miserably as a people when our brothers and sisters have to resort to such actions! Only by God’s grace are we fit to stand before him.
This is a sad situation, that will only grow worse as the nation continues downward.
Considering she surprised someone in her home she is lucky she wasn’t hurt or killed. But i feel very badly that the man was so hungary that he had to steal food. Unfortunately I’m afraid we may come to a point where this will not be an uncommon occurance, since they want to cut SSI and Medicare, where else will people find food? Obviously the government won’t feed us.
I agree with So Sad.
How sad is this.
This man was hungry. I know, I know….he broke into someone’s home which is against the law and he should pay for that.
But think of this-he was not stealing the TV or stereo..he was only getting food, to survive. This is what our world has come to. At least he’ll be fed while he is in jail. What do you think the chances are of this man showing up for court at a later date? Just more taxpayer money being wasted.
Even though he was breaking the law, I still feel sorry for this gentleman.