White Settlement home invasion suspect arrested after dropping his phone while fleeing

WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas - White Settlement Police have arrested a man they say broke into an apartment complex for seniors and robbed a woman at knifepoint.

Francisco Avila, 24, was arrested Friday afternoon in connection to the home invasion at the Oak Timbers Apartment complex on Tumbleweed Trail just before 3:30 a.m. 

Surveillance video shows a man, seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and light-colored gloves, trying to open doors near the victim's apartment.

The man tried to open two other doors before making his way to the victim's front porch and walking through an unlocked door. 

"On video, you do see him open a screen door, and he walks inside," said White Settlement Police Chief Cris Cook. "Again, unlocked apartment. So probably a crime of opportunity."

Police say a 68-year-old woman was inside asleep.

"She woke up to some pressure on her throat," the chief said. "When she saw what was going on, she sees this unknown man standing above her and realized it was a knife."

Chief Cook says the victim was hospitalized with a serious cut to her hand. She was checked out at the hospital and released.

The chief says Avila stole money and more before running away.

 "She said, ‘Take whatever you want! Take my car. Just don’t hurt me.’ At some point, he’s able to get some money, keys and tells the woman, ‘Don’t call the police until at least 10 minutes,’" he said. "She defensively pushed back against the knife, and that’s what lacerated her hand real bad."

Police say they were quickly able to track Avila down after he dropped his cellphone while running away. 

Cook says Avila was found walking around the nearby Westlake Gardens apartment complex while he was searching for the cell phone that he dropped.

Meantime, residents and management at the Oak Timbers complex are left on edge.

"We are getting with the police department about having an officer come out here to talk to them, the residents about different ways to make sure they are staying safe," said Heather Glanton, the complex manager.

Chief Cook says they also found more evidence that suggests Avila may be responsible for two other crimes, but no other specifics were given.

A similar incident at a neighboring complex happened a week ago. A man awoke to find an intruder in his apartment. The suspect took his keys and stole his truck. At this time, it’s unclear if Avila is connected to that crime as well.

Avila is charged with burglary of a home. More charges are pending. He’s being held at the White Settlement city jail and will be later transferred to the Tarrant County jail.