CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Police say they've charged a Fort Myers Beach man with fraud after he allegedly tricked car owners into thinking their brakes were leaking.
According to Cape Coral Police, 50-year-old Brian Battaglia has had one charge of scheme to defraud added to his ongoing DUI and drug possession charges.
Investigators say they were notified in June of a "mobile mechanic" scam in the area in which he suspect would approach a potential victim in a parking lot, saying there is brake fluid on the ground under their vehicle. He would identify himself as a "mechanic" and get under the vehicle, to "assist."
While under the vehicle, he would loosen the brake-line and have the victim step on the brakes, causing the pedal to go to the floor. He would then tell them he could fix it, get a $3 bottle of brake fluid, tighten the brake-line cap he had loosened, replace the fluid, and be given "money for his troubles."
Cape Coral Police detectives worked the cases, and probable cause was developed for the arrest of Battaglia.
