Two girls face theft-related charges

A pair of 13-year-old girls were arrested after police said they conducted a series of auto burglaries, taking guns and other goods, and stole a car.
Both juveniles have been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of armed burglary of a conveyance, three counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, and petit theft.
According to Cape Coral Police Department officials, between Oct. 10 and 12, officers responded to several reports involving overnight vehicle burglaries throughout residential areas of Cape Coral.
Police officials stated that in each case, thieves targeted unlocked vehicles-primarily sedans and SUVs-taking various personal items, credit cards, and two different handguns.
One vehicle, a late‑model sedan, was also stolen from a driveway and later located abandoned in the city, police state.
“Officers quickly linked the incidents through shared evidence, including surveillance footage showing two juvenile females entering multiple vehicles in the overnight hours,” a release from CCPD stated. “Investigative techniques led to the identification of (the juveniles). Both juveniles were later observed driving the stolen vehicle and in possession of items belonging to burglary victims. They stopped at multiple McDonalds and gas stations in the stolen vehicle.”
CCPD officials stated that on Oct. 12, officers, assisted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, located one of the girls at a residence in North Fort Myers.
Police state that during the operation, officers recovered two stolen handguns confirmed to match those taken from separate burglary scenes earlier in the weekend.
CCPD officials stated the other juvenile was arrested at her residence by Cape Coral patrol officers.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com