Masked suspect targets Cape Coral businesses in break-ins

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Cape Coral police reported that a masked individual was accused of attempting to break into several businesses in a shopping plaza located southeast of Santa Barbara Boulevard and Northeast Pine Island Road between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Security footage shows the suspect walking around and reportedly throwing a large stone at the glass of a business. Nathaniel Nacua, who works at Hancock Smoke Shop nearby, recognized the suspect.

He described a previous incident where the suspect was accused of using a giant rock to break through the front door. Hancock Smoke Shop has been targeted twice using this same tactic.

Security camera footage from January captured a masked person reportedly breaking into the smoke shop. The footage shows the suspect reaching into bushes to retrieve a large object. "It's crazy that somebody can consistently do the same thing within the same set of months and still not have any repercussions," Nacua said.

Cape Coral police have not confirmed if the suspect from January is the same as the one involved in this week's incidents, but they believe it is the same person. This is in the same area as Tio Jewelers, which was robbed in January in a separate incident.

Andres Guarin, owner of De Lux Liquors, expressed concern about the situation. "It's our business, you know, it's our investment. You never know what's going to happen," Guarin said.

Nacua added, "At the end of the day, it is a safe plaza. But there's always those bad apples, and you can't put everyone else on the bad apples."

Cape Coral police confirmed that the suspect managed to enter one business and steal several items earlier this week. They urge anyone with information about the suspect to contact them.

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