LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. - People in Lehigh Acres living in fear and desperate for a cure to the crime that's been plaguing their community for years.
Their calls for change coming in the shadow of a rash of burglaries that broke out overnight. They come hours after Lee County deputies released new figures showing crime in Lehigh is growing at an alarming rate.
The police report lists 12 crimes all occurring in Lehigh. Four of them are car burglaries, including one on Harry Avenue.
"We caught a couple of guys in our vehicle when my husband walked out to throw some garbage", says Antonia Hernandez.
She has had 2 cars broken into in one year and looking at Monday's crime report, Antonia is reminded of why shes's so vigilant when it comes to protecting her five children.
"I'm up at all hours of the day because I just don't feel safe. I just have to be checking on my kids every 2 hours to make sure that nobody's coming through a window or trying to unlock the front door."
Just around the corner -- thieves broke into 2 vehicles on Hightower Avenue
It happened right next door to construction worker Richard Holmes who keeps his tools in the bed of his truck.
"It's cause for concern that's for sure, so many of them in one day so close to the same area", said Richard Holmes.
The crime spike is another worry on the mind of Helene Tomilson -- who lost her husband Monday after a long illness.
"I'm very scared. I have made the decision to take a course to get a gun and get a permit and then be taught how to use it so that you know I can protect us in the event somebody does break in when we're home."
The Lee County Sheriff's Office did not respond to Fox 4's inquiries about what will take place going forward, in terms of more deputies on the streets.
