Fort Myers vape shop theft suspect accused of stealing $1K worth of kratom

Three months after a man was accused of stealing over $1,000 worth of kratom from the Edison Smoke and Vape Shop in Fort Myers, the suspect remains at large, and police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying him.

The theft occurred when the man entered the store, jumped over the counter, reportedly grabbed bottles of kratom, and ran out. A store employee said the suspect accessed the area behind the counter to steal the bottles. A week after the incident, the shop installed a door to prevent future thefts.

“Kratom is a big thing right now, and the economy is kind of bad. Everybody is looking out to make some type of money somehow, someway, and that is the wrong way to do it,” Antonio Santos of Cape Coral said.

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has been gaining popularity for its medicinal uses.

“A lot of younger people are into those substances because they want to feel something different,” Luis Machado of Cape Coral said.

Managers at the smoke shop declined to speak on camera, citing fears of retaliation. The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for help identifying the suspect, whose photo has been released.

Officers said the suspect reportedly stole over $1,000 worth of kratom and jumped over the counter while an employee was assisting another customer. The clerk attempted to stop him, but the suspect managed to escape.

“That tells me that maybe he was, that was an idea that occurred to him at the moment, and that is why he did not have any weapons,” Machado said.

The suspect reportedly fled toward Edison Mall, and an employee said he dropped some of the items on his way out.

“It’s a low-key area; it’s a nice area. You got the mall right there; you wouldn’t think crime would go down,” Santos said.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to contact the Fort Myers Police Department.