Burglar Stood Over Boca Raton Resident’s Bed, Police Say

Brett Welcz (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A Boca Raton resident woke up to an alleged burglar sitting beside her bed in a bizarre incident that led to the arrest of local man.

The 29-year-old suspect, Brett Welcz, was arrested early June 27 on a felony charge of burglary of an occupied dwelling and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence after he allegedly entered an apartment without permission and made unwanted physical contact with two residents, according to Boca Raton police.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Boca Raton police this week, officers responded to a report of a residential burglary at approximately 4:34 a.m. on the 300 block of W. Camino Real. The affidavit alleges that Welcz entered the occupied apartment without permission. Once inside, Welcz allegedly entered a female resident’s bedroom, sat at the foot of her bed while she was lying in it, and grabbed and pulled on her blanket against her will, causing “unwanted physical contact.” He then entered a male resident’s bedroom, took a bottle of Malibu rum belonging to the resident without permission, pulled down the resident’s blanket and repeatedly tapped him on the shoulder, waking him, the document states.

The two residents later located Welcz in the apartment complex’s community swimming pool area and immediately identified him to arriving officers. When officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, Welcz allegedly tensed his body, braced his arms and “refused multiple lawful commands” to place his hands behind his back, leading to an additional charge. Officers were wearing identifiable BRPD uniforms with visible badges and patches, the police report noted.

Welcz was still lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $11,000 combined bail for the two charges.