Cape Coral man accused of using kayak in series of car burglaries faces new charges

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A Cape Coral man is facing additional charges after being accused of a series of vehicle burglaries spanning several months.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, on March 20, officers responded to the 300 block of Northeast 18th Avenue for a burglary in progress at around 12:30 a.m.

The caller told police that his home surveillance cameras showed a man wearing a blue hoodie and light gray sweatpants attempting to open the doors of three locked vehicles parked at the home.

The suspect then crossed the street and entered an unlocked vehicle, rummaged through it, and left the area, CCPD said.

A K9 unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle were deployed, according to CCPD. The UAV operator saw the suspect enter the backyard of a residence on Northeast 17th Place and go inside through a rear door. The home is located across from a canal.

Officers then made contact with the suspect, identified as Koltin Burns, 20, who was wearing only boxer shorts and had wet hair, CCPD said. A wet kayak with a fresh footprint was located on the property.

Through investigation, officers linked Burns with multiple vehicle burglaries on Northeast 18th Avenue. CCPD said Burns used a kayak to cross the canal and commit the burglaries.

Burns was arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail.

On March 22, officers responded to reports of a vehicle burglary on Northeast 18th Avenue at around 7:43 p.m.

The victim reported that two wallets, cash and credit cards were stolen from his vehicle. He also found a pink floral makeup bag that belonged to his neighbor, which contained some of his stolen items, as well as property belonging to the neighbor.

The makeup bag had been reported stolen, and additional items were located inside the bag that linked to another victim, CCPD said.

On April 1, detectives interviewed Burns and were able to link him to the March 22 incident, as well as multiple additional vehicle burglaries, including an incident on Feb. 14, according to CCPD.

On Feb. 14, officers responded to Burns' residence after a woman reported that her vehicle had been burglarized overnight. She told officers her Apple AirPods had been stolen and were pinging to Burns' address.

After interviewing Burns on April 1, detectives located several stolen items concealed in bushes along the canal bank near Burns' residence. Most of the items had water damage from being submerged in the canal water.

Following the additional discoveries, more charges were added for Burns, who now faces nine counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, one count of larceny, four counts of petit theft, one count of grand theft and one count of grand theft of a controlled substance.

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