If you have any information about these crimes or any person(s) involved, you are urged to call SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or click the Submit a Tip button to anonymously provide information. We want your information, not your name! We will pay a cash reward of up to $3,000 if your tip leads to an arrest.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips from students at North Fort Myers High School after written threats of violence were made this morning.
Approximately two hours after school started, School Resource Officers at North High were notified about several threats written in the girl’s bathroom in multi-color dry erase markers. Among the phrases written were “Shooting this school up Monday Feb 4,” “Ima kill them all,” and “Ya’ll don’t need to live,” as well as several other threats. Detectives immediately launched an investigation and have subsequently deemed the threats to be non-credible. However, investigators are trying to determine which student or students may be responsible for writing the threats.
“We encourage parents to talk with their students this weekend about the serious nature and consequences of making these kinds of threats, and the importance of reporting these types of illegal actions,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “Implying violent acts on campus will not be tolerated and students should neither condone those actions nor protect so called friends who are writing the threats.”
Anyone with information on the person or persons responsible for this morning’s threats of violence at North Fort Myers High School is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will always remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
** UPDATE #1 **
In an attempt to identify the two suspects in Monday night’s car burglary spree in Lehigh Acres, enhanced photos of the suspects have been released.
Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE: JANUARY 1, 2019
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two suspects accused of breaking into at least nine vehicles late last night and early this morning in the Shadow Lakes community of Lehigh Acres.
According to detectives, the duo began their spree shortly before midnight, going from house to house in search of unlocked cars. Video surveillance cameras captured images of the suspects on two driveways, looking inside the parked vehicles and subsequently moving along once they realized the cars were locked. Numerous other vehicles they approached were unlocked, and had cash, electronics and other personal items stolen.
One of the males appeared to be wearing a dark hoodie, light grey sweatpants, slides and gloves. The second suspect wore a black hoodie, grey sweatpants, black sneakers and gloves. Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.comor by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help tracking down a vehicle which is believed to be connected to a Lehigh Acres homicide.
Meenyus Miller, 19, was found murdered on Golfview Boulevard on Saturday, January 12th. Detectives believe the crime occurred sometime between the hours of 9 and 10 p.m. that evening. Over the course of the last two weeks, video of a vehicle which may be associated with the homicide has been tracked down. Crime Stoppers is hoping to secure information on who the small black vehicle belongs to, and why it may have been in the area of the homicide that night.
Anyone with information on the vehicle, or who may have been driving it, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down a male suspect accused of battering a senior citizen at a North Fort Myers McDonald’s last week.
The victim was at the McDonald’s, located at 3061 NE Pine Island Road, around 2:00 p.m. last Wednesday, Jan. 23rd. When he entered the restroom, he noticed someone was in the locked stall. The victim waited a few minutes, then knocked on the door, with no response. A few minutes later, the suspect exited the stall and began verbally berating the victim. The altercation quickly became physical, with the suspect punching the senior citizen in the face several times, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect continued his attack by kicking the 68 year old in the rib cage several times, before leaving the restroom, and the restaurant. He was last spotted heading towards the rear of the Merchants Crossing shopping center on foot.
Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect leaving the restaurant. Anyone who recognizes the man, or has any information on his whereabouts, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app. Upon his arrest, the suspect will be charged with battery on a person age 65 or older.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in trying to track down the person or persons responsible for a school shooting threat made at Estero High School earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Jan. 15th, a student at Estero High reported to her School Resource Officer that she’d seen a threat written on a handicapped bathroom stall in the building. The handwritten message stated “Shoot 2.1.19.” Investigators immediately began looking into the threat and trying to track down the student or students who were responsible for writing it. Several students were interviewed by detectives, however the person(s) responsible for making the threat is still unknown.
“The message has remained consistent that unsubstantiated school threats are not a joke and that every threat is taken very seriously. Consequences will accompany these actions,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “We are confident there are students at Estero High School, and in our community, who know exactly who wrote that threat. We encourage them to do the right thing and report what they know anonymously.”
Anyone who has information on the person who wrote that threat on the bathroom stall at Estero High School is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and locating two males who burglarized a locked vehicle, and tried to break into a home, while the owners were out of town.
The victim and her husband left town on December 21st for the holidays and, before leaving, double checked that both their car vehicle and home’s shutters were locked and secured. When the couple returned to their Bells Street E. home in Lehigh on January 1st, they discovered their car had been ransacked and a window above their front door was broken. The unknown suspects managed to gain entry to the car by breaking the drivers side door. Once inside, the young men stole several hundred dollars worth of personal items. Although the criminal duo attempted to break into the home, the suspects were unsuccessful.
After reviewing the home’s surveillance video this week, images of two young men were captured between 9 and 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 29th. The suspects initially used what appears to be a hammer and tree trimmer cutters to pry open shutters at the rear of the home. Roughly an hour later, they were seen at the front of the home breaking into the car parked in the driveway.
Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down an armed suspect who robbed a Lehigh Acres check cashing store at gunpoint this afternoon.
The suspect entered the Advanced America check cashing store, located at 1119 Homestead Road N., just before 12:30 p.m. While displaying a firearm, the male demanded cash from the register. In fear for her life, the employee complied, and the man fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. He is described as being between 50 and 55 years old, wearing a leather jacket and construction style sunglasses at the time of the robbery. Witnesses describe him as approximately 5’7” with a thin build.
Anyone with information on the identity and whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
This afternoon, Wells Fargo extended an additional reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the December 12th robbery in Lehigh Acres. This amount is in addition to Crime Stoppers reward money of up to $3,000.
Anyone with information on the suspect or suspects involved in bank robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000 from Crime Stoppers and up to $5,000 from Wells Fargo. Please note that the added reward money is for both the arrest and conviction. The Crime Stoppers reward is for the arrest only. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Around 2:44 p.m., a white or light skinned Hispanic male entered the Wells Fargo, located at 1130 Homestead Road N. The suspect approached a teller and held a gun in clear sight, while demanding all the cash from the drawer. The teller complied and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Anyone with information on the identity and whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.comor by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two thieves who broke into a string of vehicles in a Lehigh Acres neighborhood.
Sometime in the overnight hours of late Thursday, December 6 and early morning on Friday, December 7, two unidentified suspects targeted unlocked vehicles in the 700 and 800 block of Rue Labeau Circle. Surveillance video shows the suspects exiting a vehicle and walking from car to car looking for unlocked vehicles. The suspects easily found several cars parked in driveways that afforded them easy access. The suspects proceeded to ransack each of the cars and remove various items, including cash, credit cards and a laptop.
Anyone with information on the identities of these suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
In the wake of several threats made at Lee County schools within the last few weeks, Crime Stoppers is asking students to help detectives by sharing any information they may have heard or witnessed – all while remaining anonymous.
The most recent threats occurred earlier this week at Lehigh Acres Middle School and Bonita Springs Middle School. On Monday night, December 10th, an unknown person messaged an online group stating “School Shooting LAMS”. Earlier in the day, school administrators found writing on the boys restroom wall at Bonita Springs Middle School which said “School Shooter Dec 12 or 13.” Detectives determined there to be no credible threat to students at either school, however investigations into both of these incidents, as well as previous school threats, are active.
“Students are very likely to have information on classmates who are responsible for making these threats at area schools, and Crime Stoppers really needs to hear from them,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “School threats are a very serious matter and withholding important information on them only enables and empowers the students who are responsible for these incidents. We hope that parents will talk to their teenagers about this topic and encourage them to do the right thing and say something if they know something.”
Anyone with information on any threat made at a local school is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down three suspects who broke into a Lee County home in broad daylight last week.
The burglary occurred on Bermar Street just after 9 a.m. on Friday, November 30th. Surveillance cameras captured images of a male entering the home through a window on the west side of the house. Once inside the residence, he unlocked the front door and let two other individuals inside. Within a matter of minutes, the men went from room to room, removing several television sets, a laptop computer, an Xbox One gaming system, as well as other items. All three suspects wore gloves during the burglary.
Anyone with information on the identities of any of the three men are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying a trio of thieves accused of breaking into at several cars in the Copper Oaks community early yesterday morning.
The incidents occurred along Tin Maple Drive in the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 4th. Detectives say multiple cars, most of which were unlocked, were entered, with wallets and personal identification stolen. In one incident, thieves smashed through a car window in pursuit of a wallet left on the right front seat. Shortly after the break-ins, three suspects were caught on camera trying to use one of the stolen cards at the nearby Wal Mart in Estero. Bank records show that the suspects attempted to use the card to purchase $633.88 in pre-paid phone cards, which was ultimately declined by the bank. The young men are also accused of prying open the door of another vehicle to pop the lock and enter the car. Credit cards were stolen from that incident, however have not been used as of this time.
Detectives believe the suspects from yesterday morning’s spree are also connected with multiple other burglary cases over the last week in the Estero area. They are also believed to be driving in a dark colored sedan.
Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of the suspects are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two unknown suspects who broke into at least six cars Saturday night, and stole two cars, as well.
In the overnight hours of Saturday, December 1st, unknown suspects burglarized a minimum of six cars in the Colonial Walk gated community. Each one of the cars targeted were left unlocked, with a list of personal items stolen. In addition to the break-ins, two cars were stolen outright after spare keys were left inside the unlocked vehicles. Neither of the two stolen cars have been located at this time.
“Criminals are constantly looking for easy prey, and unlocked vehicles are a prime target,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “Residents may feel that because they live in a gated community that they are immune to crime and may let their guard down. No matter where you live, you should always take precautions and take the quick step of locking your car doors every night and every time.”
Security cameras from one of the victims captured images of two suspects rummaging through a car. Anyone with information on the identities and whereabouts of any suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who swiped someone else’s property from a luggage belt at Southwest Florida International Airport last week.
The suspect was in the baggage claim area last Wednesday, November 21st around 4 p.m. when Lee County Port Authority detectives say he grabbed a bag from the belt and raced towards a waiting car. Surveillance cameras captured images of the man meeting up with an unknown woman and loading the stolen luggage into a maroon sedan.
Anyone with information on the identity and whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down a suspect who detectives believe is responsible for at least six smash and grab bar burglaries on Wednesday.
Each one of the instances occurred in the late afternoon and early evening hours on Wednesday, November 21, mostly in the parking lots of south Lee County gyms. Cars parked at LA Fitness, located at 8951 Bonita Beach Road, Crunch Fitness, located at 3306 Bonita Beach Road, and Around the Clock Fitness, located at 1664 Alico Mission Way, were all targeted by the unknown male suspect. Every vehicle had a window smashed and personal items stolen. The suspect attempted to use some of the stolen credit cards at area businesses, including the Target at Coconut Point. Surveillance cameras captured images of him leaving the area in a white Dodge Journey.
“This is a different method of car burglary than what we normally see. Typically, suspects will target unlocked vehicles, however this thief is a bit more bold and is taking the time to break windows,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “To help prevent becoming a victim, we strongly encourage drivers to keep all valuables out of plain sight, which would help remove the incentive for a crook to break a car’s window.”
Anyone with information on the identity and whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
In a continuing effort to determine who was responsible for the written threat made at Cypress Lake Middle School last week, detectives returned to the school today to speak with more students. Late this afternoon, they obtained a confession from student Isabella De La Rosa (DOB 3/2/06). De La Rosa was charged with one felony count of a written threat to do bodily harm or mass shooting, as defined by Florida State Statute. She is currently being booked at the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). Her mugshot should be available later this evening on the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s website.
“The act of making a threat of something as serious as a school shooting is no joking matter, and as this young lady is finding out today, it is, in fact, a serious crime,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “We hope that parents will seize this opportunity to have a discussion with their children about the repercussions of these bad choices and the impacts that will have long lasting effects on their lives.”
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE: NOVEMBER 16, 2018
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help generating information on a threat posted in a bathroom at Cypress Lake Middle School earlier this week.
According to detectives, a written threat of violence was found at the school on Wednesday afternoon, November 14th. An unknown person wrote “shooting Nov 14” inside one of the handicap stalls in the girls bathroom. After interviewing several students, and ensuring that there were no altercations or disturbances on campus, the threat was deemed non-credible. Detectives and school administrators are now shifting their focus to find out who was responsible for writing the threat.
“Any time someone makes a threat towards a school or its students, law enforcement launches a full investigation to ensure student and staff safety,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “Every threat is taken seriously and is thoroughly checked out. False threats tie up resources which could otherwise be deployed to authentic emergencies. There are repercussions to these irresponsible actions and students needs to be aware that consequences will accompany any false threats made to a school.”
Anyone with information on the person or persons responsible for Wednesday’s threat at Cypress Lake Middle School is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help tracking down two robbers who held up a Lee County 7-Eleven convenience store yesterday morning.
According to employees, two unknown males wearing masks and gloves entered the 7-Eleven store, located at 11700 S. Tamiami Trail, just after midnight on Tuesday morning. One suspect brandished a black pistol and demanded money from the store’s register. After collecting an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect then took a female victim’s purse, containing her Florida identification card, credit cards and miscellaneous personal items. Both men fled on foot headed westbound on Palm Drive.
The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5’3”, 120 pounds, with a thin build, approximately 20 years of age. He wore a black long sleeved hooded sweater, blue jeans and a black mask. The second suspect is described as a black male, 6’2”, 150 pounds, approximately 25 years of age, wearing a grey long sleeved hooded sweater and a black mask. The black suspect did not display any weapons and did not speak during the robbery.
Anyone with information on the identities of either suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for assistance from young adults to help identify the student or students responsible for a non-credible threat at a Bonita Springs school earlier this week.
On Tuesday, October 23rd, a student at Bonita Springs Middle School, located at 10141 W. Terry Street, reported observing writing on the inside of a bathroom stall stating “date of shooting” and “December 13.” Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Services Division launched an immediate investigation and subsequently deemed the threat as non-credible to either Bonita Middle, or other schools. They additionally determined that there was no correlation to any incidents for the December 13th date.
Although the writings have not been determined to be a credible threat, the fact that they implied a threat is a crime in and of itself. Crime Stoppers is hoping to hear anonymously from students at Bonita Middle who may have information on the person or persons who wrote those words on the stall wall.
“Law enforcement takes every single implication of a threat as an extremely serious matter,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “Students need to realize that this is no joking matter, and that in this day and age, they absolutely cannot joke about these sensitive topics. We encourage any student or parent who has information on who wrote those words to come forward and help ensure that these types of threats do not happen again.”
Anyone with information on the identities of the person or persons responsible for the threat is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or on the P3Tips mobile app.
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect who was involved in an attempted sex crime Monday night.
According to the victim, an unknown male approached her in the area of Barbie Lane and Tucker Lane shortly after 8 p.m. on October 8th. She reported that the man threw her to the ground, and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim, fortunately, managed to get away and run for help, however the suspect is still at large. He is described as a white male who was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and cowboy boots, and was riding a black bicycle.
Anyone with information on a suspect fitting that description, who was seen in that area of North Fort Myers on Monday night, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, the reward for information leading to an arrest in a 2013 homicide has increased again.
This week, another $1,000 was added to the reward fund for the murder of Kyle Byrtus. Kyle was only 25 years old when an unknown assailant took his life in August 2013 and left his body in a secluded field in Lehigh Acres. Investigators and family members alike have felt for years that although Kyle was found in Lehigh, the answers on who is responsible for his death lie within the Pine Manor community, where Kyle spent a significant amount of his time.
The total amount of reward money for information leading to an arrest in Kyle’s case is now $5,200 – $2,200 from anonymous donors and $3,000 from Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.
“Despite the time that has passed, family members and friends of Kyle are determined to find justice,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “The answers are absolutely out there – it’s just a matter of someone having the sense of good conscience to come forward and share what they know so that Kyle can finally rest in peace.”
Anyone with information on the person or persons responsible for the murder of Kyle Byrtus is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000 from Crime Stoppers and $2,200 from anonymous donors. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or on the P3Tips mobile app.
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