The Lee County Sheriff's Office connected a trio of burglars to multiple crimes across Lee County, and even seized multiple stolen guns.
Tuesday morning, two young men broke into a home in Alva through the back window. The homeowner was there at the time and said they were wearing ski masks and gloves.
"Very scary. Still scary. Think you live in a safe neighborhood until something like that happens," the homeowner, who didn't want to be identified, said. "Snuck through the back yard and tried to come through the slider and that's when she had seen them and yelled at them and scared them off."
His wife immediately called 911. Her description of the suspect car led deputies to Travis Warriner, 19. He was wearing the black clothing the victim described. Warriner told detectives his 19-year-old cousin Emilio Heinzman was with him, and was in possession of several stolen guns from various burglaries. He said the guns were at his home in Lehigh Acres. Deputies searched the house and found five guns and several rounds of ammo.
Through their investigation, deputies were able to connect Warriner and Heinzman to a burglary in the Avalon Bay gated community in South Fort Myers. Messages on Facebook obtained by deputies revealed a 16-year-old girl was the look out. All three have been arrested and charged.
"They're young and they're already out and doing crimes like this and stealing guns and breaking into houses," neighbor Alan Bankerd said.
All three are facing charges of occupied burglary to a dwelling, grand theft, and burglary to conveyance.
Heinzman is additionally charged with possession of firearm by delinquent adult.
Additional charges are forthcoming.
