Cape man accused in string of garage burglaries
A Cape Coral man was arrested in connection with a string in burglaries after one of the victims identified him in a photo lineup, according to police.
Richard Joel Stringfellow, 27, of 3303 S.W. Ninth Ave., was charged Saturday with unarmed burglary of a dwelling and theft of $300 to less than $5,000. Additional charges are pending, police said Monday.
The victim who identified Stringfellow arrived at his home in the 100 block of Southwest 39th Street to find Stringfellow stealing racing rims and tires from his garage at about 5:24 p.m. Sept. 23, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The victim’s parents were inside the home during the burglary, Barron said. Stringfellow loaded the rims and tires into his red Ford Explorer and fled the scene after the victim startled him.
Detectives with the Cape Coral Police Department developed Stringfellow as a suspect, and the victim met with detectives to identify him Thursday. Police later discovered the victim’s tires and rims in Stringfellow’s garage along with various other stolen items, Barron said.
Stringfellow reportedly admitted to stealing from open garages over the past several months, and drove around the city with police pointing out the homes he had burglarized.
Police seized stolen property from Stringfellow’s garage, booked him and took him to the Lee County Jail.
It is unclear how many other homes Stringfellow is accused of burglarizing, though additional charges are pending, Barron said.
He has been released on a combined $6,500 bond, according to jail booking records.