NORTH FORT MYERS, FLa. -- Home surveillance video taken last week in North Fort Myers shows one of more than 12 car burglaries or thefts in Fort Myers in 2016. Thieves were able to take hundreds of dollars in personal belongings.
"They took some money. They took a very expensive baseball bat. They took electronics. They're taking whatever they can get," says Trish Routte of Lee County Crimestoppers.
The two didn't stop there. They went right next door.
Elayne Wade also had her car broken into. "Well when we first found the car, papers were sticking out like that, and shut so we knew someone had been in the car. They just took the change out of there. It could have been a lot worse."
It's not what people would expect on St. Claire Avenue where thieves targeted cars in several driveways. "I've always considered it a very safe neighborhood," said Audrey Wade.
The family tells me they still see it that way but they're frustrated after having their silver Buick burglarized. "Get upset that people think they can just take what belongs to other people that they work hard for," said Wade.
All four of the cars broken into at 3:30 in the morning on St. Clair Avenue could have been prevented. "Lock the door, take the keys out. It takes a second to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a crime," says Routte. But she has no doubt the surveillance video will help them find whose behind a few of the burglaries.
"Their local, no doubt. So if you know them we hope that people will pick up the phone and call," Routte says.
