Two trucks were stolen from two different Lee County hotels within two hours on Friday morning. Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff's Office responded to the Holiday Inn on Interstate Commerce Drive and the Embassy Suites on Corkscrew Commons Drive.
Incident reports show one of the victims staying at the Holiday Inn told deputies he locked his pick up truck in the parking lot on Wednesday late in the afternoon and went up to his room for the night. The next morning the truck was missing along with his work computer and other belongings valued at more than $25,000. The victim told deputies he still had his keys in his pocket and did not give anyone permission to take his truck.
The other victim was getting ready to leave the Embassy suites nearby located at Corckscrew drive when he noticed his white Ford truck wasn't in the parking lot. A white storage trailer was attached to the truck but the suspects detached the trailer before leaving the hotel. The victim says his truck was locked and he had possession of the keys and did not allow anyone to take or use his vehicle.
The Embassy Suites is the same hotel where more than 50 cars were broken into this past Christmas Day.
Four In Your Corner spoke to the Lee County Sheriff's office about the recent break-ins
"People get trusting. They think their stuff is safe but you never know what somebody walking by is going to want out of your vehicle," Sgt. Anita Iriarte said.
She tells Four In Your Corner the number of break-ins in the area are pretty high and it can be difficult to get a victim's belongings returned.
"Somebody goes into your car perhaps breaks your window - that requires a deputy, then it requires a detective, then it requires tracking down your items and a lot of times things aren't trackable," she said.
Four In Your Corner asked if hotels are hotspots for thieves. She says hotels can be a popular spot for thieves because of the large number of visitors from up north.
"Many times they think let me go ahead and leave it inside. But it's better to take your belongings with you," she said.
Sgt.Iriarte with the Sheriff's Office says there hasn't been a rash of burglaries like the one on Christmas Day but people should always remember to take their valuables inside of keep it with them at all times.
If you ever suspect a burglary or witness any type of criminal activity you are encouraged to dial 9-1-1 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
