Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two young men who burglarized several vehicles in Lehigh Acres early yesterday morning.
The damage was discovered around 7:30 a.m. on August 31 when one of the victims went to drive his son to school. When he looked at his car, parked in his driveway on 15th Street SW, he noticed that the driver’s side window was smashed in, and his dashboard was damaged by someone trying to dismantle the stereo system.
The resident had surveillance cameras installed on the outside of his home, which captured images of the suspects in action. Upon review of the video, it was learned that two suspects were seen walking from the west side of the residence onto the driveway around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. One suspect climbed onto the truck bed and attempted to gain access through the rear sliding window, with unsuccessful results.
Both suspects left the home on foot, walking westbound on 15th Street SW. Just over 30 minutes later, the same two suspects arrived at the residence a second time. One suspect moved the two surveillance cameras on the upper two corners of the garage and possibly unscrewed lightbulbs on the sides of the garage.
The second suspect approached another truck in the driveway, and removed the trailer hitch, which was used to break the window. While he was burglarizing the car, the second suspect walked onto the home’s screened lanai to ensure that nobody was watching them.
Detectives believe three cars were broken into during that same time frame, by the same suspects, all in the area of Hightower Ave. S. Lehigh Acres.
Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com.
For further information, contact Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator, at troutte@sheriffleefl.org.