LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man is behind bars after deputies say he broke into a barn early Thursday morning and helped himself to the homeowner’s liquor cabinet before being caught.
The incident began around 12:35 a.m. on January 8, when a resident on Crews Lake Drive spotted a stranger rummaging through her property. When Polk County deputies arrived at the scene, they located 42-year-old Matthew Von Glahn inside the victim’s barn.
According to investigators, Von Glahn didn’t just burglarize the property; he made himself at home. Deputies discovered that during the break-in, the suspect opened a bottle of the victim’s Crown Royal whisky and drank about half of it.
READ: Poinciana Hit-And-Run: Suspect Walks Away From Wreck, Straight Into Handcuffs
The arrest was not seamless. Reports state that Von Glahn was uncooperative and physically resisted deputies as they took him into custody. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and initially booked on charges of Burglary, Petit Theft, and Resisting without Violence.
However, investigators soon linked Von Glahn to a second crime scene just a few doors down.
Roughly 1,000 feet away from the barn, a residence under construction had also been targeted. Deputies found that electrical wiring in the home had been cut, resulting in approximately $1,500 in damages.
Detectives recovered evidence connecting Von Glahn to the construction site burglary as well. Consequently, authorities added charges of Burglary of a Dwelling and Felony Criminal Mischief to his booking sheet.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
