The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man is facing multiple charges when he was reportedly caught in a residential backyard after allegedly wandering onto the property and stealing a decorative garden turtle.
Just after midnight on August 2, a resident was asleep in their Southwest Cape Coral home when strange noises on their lanai caused them to wake up. They immediately looked outside to see if they could determine the source of the sounds. While scanning the landscape of their yard, they reportedly noticed what appeared to be a bearded man hanging out in their swimming pool cage.
The homeowner called the authorities and let them know about the purported trespasser, who appeared to have several tattoos, a beard, and was wearing a pair of shorts. Officers from the Cape Coral Police Department rushed to the address to investigate.
When they arrived and began checking around the property, the officers reported that the resident sent them into the yard. It appeared that the man was trying to conceal himself behind a bush, but they immediately spotted him. The man stood up and interacted with the officers without further incident.
According to reports, there were several surveillance cameras placed around the residence, and the owner gave the police the footage from the time of the incident. They viewed the contents, and they reported that they saw the man entering the property and swiping a decorative garden turtle from the homeowner’s garden.
The turtle was returned to its rightful owner, and the man was taken into custody and booked into the Lee County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, and petit theft. He was released the following day after posting a $10,750 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.