FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, WeatherThieves busting car windows in Naples, stealing stuff during day
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Naples - Thieves are smashing car windows to steal your stuff in Naples - in broad daylight.
In just two hours on Wednesday, crooks made off with $8,000 worth of stolen goods.
Just steps from the Naples beach, shattered glass lines the street. Police say it was left over from one of three car break-ins.
"It's terrible," said Jeff Roberts, who has lived in Naples for 10 years. "It really is terrible."
Thieves are taking off with $8,000 worth of iPods, cell phones, credit cards and purses from parking lots at the Naples Beach - items left out in the open.
There was also another break-in reported at Lady Park Elementary School. All three incidents happened Wednesday between 2:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
"That is scary," said Jacqui Hamilton, who is visiting from Kentucky. "That is nervous especially in this area because you are in a more wealthy area downtown."
And that could be what's luring thieves. Hamilton left her purse in her Tahoe and went back to get it after we told her about the break-ins.
"I do not want my valuables to be gone," she said. "I'd like to hold on to what I do have. And [I] went out and got my mom and dad's valuables out as well."
Police say you should never leave anything of value in your car but if you have to leave something like your GPS or your wallet police say make sure you leave it in a safe place, locked away, where thieves won't see it.
"If they can see it," said Lt. John Barkley, with the Naples Police Department, "they're probably going to smash the window to try and get it."
Police recommend ladies clean out their purses, leaving extra credit cards and expensive items - like jewelry - at home.
Bottom line: If you don't need it at the beach, don't bring it.
"These people are definitely determined," said Barkley, who said it can be difficult to catch the crooks.
The thieves aren't' sticking around long. Which means they, and your stolen stuff, could be gone before you ever get out of the water.
Matt Grant
mgrant@fox4now.com
