Lee County deputies link trailer stolen from Walmart parking lot to Lehigh Acres suspect

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A Lehigh Acres man is in custody after the Lee County Sheriff's Office says he stole a trailer at a Walmart parking lot.

According to LCSO, on Tuesday, deputies responded to the Walmart on Pine Ridge Road in North Fort Myers over reports of an overnight trailer theft.

The owner of a business at the shopping plaza told deputies that his black trash trailer was taken in the evening by an unknown suspect. Deputies say License Plate Reader technology helped them locate the car that the stolen trailer was attached to, belonging to Michael Hopper, 42.

Hopper reportedly denied stealing the trailer. He was arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail. Hopper faces charges of grand theft and organized dealing in stolen property.

Hopper has 13 previous arrests on several charges, including burglary, fraud and aggravated battery.

Deputies say the trailer was recovered and returned to the owner.

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