Man accused of stealing 22 slot machines valued at approximately $95K from Lee County arcade

A Fort Myers man is accused of stealing arcade gaming machines after detectives said surveillance video captured him breaking into a business and making multiple trips with a pickup truck and trailer. Deputies responded to the adult arcade located at 15630 McGregor Blvd. on Sept. 24. According to the arrest report, the business owner/representative reported that 22 slot machines were stolen and that they were valued at an estimated total of $95,000. The person told Lee County deputies the machines were delivered three days earlier, as the business prepared for its grand opening. Several of the delivered machines were mounted to the walls with fasteners. Investigators reported seeing broken ceiling tiles, with a security camera torn from the ceiling, and damaged walls that appeared to be where the machine fasteners were ripped away. According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, surveillance video from a nearby business showed that the incident happened between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. The LCSO said a man was seen on the video walking up to the front door of the arcade before breaking the glass with a blunt object, entering, and then walking out of the arcade a few moments later. The report states the suspect, later identified as Renan Castilhos, 34, came back with a pickup truck and a black enclosed trailer and proceeded to remove all the machines in three trips over the course of an hour and a half. Additional surveillance footage helped detectives establish a pattern of travel to a nearby Public Storage facility located at 11181 Kelly Road. According to the LCSO, Castilhos leased a storage unit from the facility a day before the burglary, and he traveled from the unit at the same time as the burglary. Detectives later interviewed Castilhos at his residence, and on Thursday, deputies executed a search warrant at the storage unit. Several items were collected as evidence related to the burglary scene, but the gaming machines were not found, according to the LCSO. Early Friday morning, deputies executed another search warrant at Castilhos' residence and vehicle. The LCSO said several burglary items were recovered from the home. According to the sheriff's office, evidence of the burglary found at Castilhos' storage unit, residence, and vehicle was enough to substantiate probable cause for his arrest. Castilhos is facing charges of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure and grand theft of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, both of which are felonies. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.