From a spike in romance scam calls to a dramatic high-speed chase involving teenagers, Lee County law enforcement agencies are tackling a diverse range of criminal activity as the region's population continues to grow. Here is your roundup of recent crime news across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and surrounding communities.
Romance Scam Calls Surge
The Lee County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to residents about a sharp increase in scam calls targeting families. Callers impersonate LCSO deputies using spoofed or VoIP phone numbers, claiming a family member has been arrested and can be released with an ankle monitor if payment is made immediately. The scammers demand payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency ATMs. Sheriff Carmine Marceno urges residents to hang up and call the Sheriff's Office directly at 239-477-1000 to verify any such claims.
Teen Robbery Leads to 85 MPH Chase
Two teenagers were arrested after a dramatic pursuit that began with the robbery of hundreds of dollars' worth of vaping products from Papa's Smoke Shop in North Fort Myers. Deputies identified the suspect vehicle as a silver Ford Escape SUV, which was spotted by the Florida Highway Patrol speeding without headlights. The LCSO aviation unit tracked the vehicle as the driver ran multiple red lights, drove on the wrong side of the roadway, and reached speeds of approximately 85 miles per hour.
With assistance from aerial surveillance and a K-9 unit, authorities located the driver after an attempted escape on foot near a pond. Detectives later determined the teens had allegedly stolen the vehicle from a family member, driven to Cape Coral to steal a second vehicle, and then committed the robbery.
Property Fraud Prevention Pilot Wraps Up
Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes completed a groundbreaking property fraud prevention pilot program, the only one of its kind in Florida. The program was designed to detect and prevent deed fraud schemes where criminals forge documents to transfer property ownership without the homeowner's knowledge. With rising property values across Lee County, real estate fraud has become an increasingly attractive target for organized criminal networks.
Counterfeit Watch Scheme
A man and woman accused of selling counterfeit high-end watches in a scheme that defrauded a victim of more than 0,000 have been extradited to Miami-Dade County. The suspects operated out of the Cape Coral area before authorities caught up with them.
Staying Safe
Residents can use the Lee County Sheriff's Office crime mapping tool at sheriffleefl.org to track criminal activity by address and incident type. The LCSO also maintains a public arrest search database and sex predator relocation notifications to help the community stay informed.
