Suspects break into Lakes Library in Fort Myers

By FOX 4

CREATED Nov. 13, 2012 - UPDATED: Nov. 13, 2012

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  • Stealing from you. Someone broke into one of your public libraries over the Veterans Day weekend. Video by fox4now.com

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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Stealing from you. Someone broke into one of your public libraries over the Veterans Day weekend.
 
Whoever broke into this Fort Myers library over the weekend also destroyed the library’s video surveillance system.  Tonight, those suspects remain at large.
A steady stream of vehicles are coming and then quickly going from the lakes regional library in Fort Myers.
 
Just before 7-30 Tuesday morning, library staff opened the doors only to find something very disturbing.  Books, supplies, and computers all over the floor.  Many areas of the library vandalized.
 
Several copy machines were damaged, a TV was stolen, computers were damaged, money was stolen from printers and vending machines and many desks and drawers were turned upside down.
 
Rows and rows of cars, people using the book drop off.  Many just not expecting this.
 
Bob Brown was hoping to get some work done today.  "I got a computer at home and I wanted to fill out some job applications on the computer."
 
Sheriff's deputies and library staff were sorting stuff out for some five hours and cleaning up the mess and the doors finally opened.
 
That was at 3pm Tuesday afternoon.  But with something like this never happening here before, it clearly has taken a toll.
 
"I'm upset for the staff, I'm upset for the building." Joann said.
 
We are also learning that the master key to the library was stolen late last week.  We asked administration if they thought this was an inside job they told me ‘no comment’.