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Authorities: Woman used toy gun to scare off burglar

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DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., June 26 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said they arrested an accused burglar who was scared off when a homeowner brandished her son's toy gun.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said Roland Stuart Jr., 27, allegedly broke into Jane Rainboth's Deerfield Beach home Monday and the barking of the woman's dog led her to wake up and spot the man in her bedroom, the WPLG-TV, Miami, reported Wednesday.

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The sheriff's office report said Rainboth shouted, "I have a gun," and brandished her young son's toy gun, which was near her bed, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

Investigators said Stuart fled the home and was arrested while hiding in a nearby wooded area just before 10 p.m.

Stuart was charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling. His bond was set at $75,000 Tuesday.

"The court believes that you represent a danger to the community, that you're willing to go into a woman's home while she's in bed, get into her bedroom and stand over her while she's in bed," Judge John Hurley told the suspect at the bond hearing.

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