Delray Beach Man Confronts Armed Intruder in His Mercedes

A Delray Beach man got an alarming surprise after discovering an intruder with a knife sitting inside his parked Mercedes-Benz in Lake Worth. The incident unfolded Thursday and quickly escalated into a dangerous confrontation involving a weapon and a short foot chase.

Confrontation With Armed Intruder

Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) responded to reports of a vehicle burglary on the 130 block of South H Street in Lake Worth. The victim told deputies he had been walking with two other men when he spotted a man inside his car. The individual, later identified as 37-year-old Jose Valencia, was sitting in the driver’s seat of the victim’s Mercedes. When the three men approached the vehicle to confront Valencia, he suddenly exited the car and lunged at them with an object in his hand. The victim and his companions quickly restrained Valencia and called 911 for help. However, before law enforcement arrived, Valencia escaped their grasp and fled the scene on foot.

Suspect Located Nearby With Knife

Deputies launched an immediate search in the surrounding area. Within minutes, they located Valencia just one block away from the initial scene of the attempted burglary. Upon detaining him, a search revealed he was carrying a black folding knife with a 3.5-inch blade. The weapon was seized and logged as evidence. Authorities believe Valencia had the knife on him during the confrontation and potentially used it to threaten the vehicle owner and his companions when they discovered him inside the car.

Arrest and Charges

After interviewing witnesses and reviewing the events, deputies found sufficient probable cause to arrest Jose Valencia. He is now facing charges of armed burglary and resisting arrest without violence. The incident remains under investigation, but no injuries were reported during the altercation. Law enforcement officials commended the quick response of the victim and his companions. Still, they urged the public to exercise caution in similar situations and prioritize safety by calling 911 rather than confronting potentially armed suspects directly.