4 arrested in massive SWFL auto theft ring, more suspects sought

LEE COUNTY, Fla.-  A major auto theft ring, busted by Southwest Florida deputies.

Four men were arrested, and deputies are still looking for as many as 30 others.

WINK News has investigated the ring for days.

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The main suspect in the investigation was identified as 35-year-old Eddie Deleon. Police also arrested 49-year-old David Dix, 49-year-old Dennis Flint, and 28-year-old Charles Sikes, as co-ringleaders.

We found the investigation started in late 2014, when detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office began into the theft of several Ford F-series trucks.

Detectives discovered that near the locations of these vehicle thefts, there were also large clusters of burglaries occurring during those same time frames.

The thieves would take the trucks, rummage through them for anything of value, then ditch them in the Crescent Acres area of Lee County, near the borders of Glades and Hendry counties.

Detectives from Hendry, Glades, Collier and Lee Counties were able to work together.

Deputies from Hendry, Glades, Collier and Lee began sharing information and developed a few persons-of-interest – ones who also happened to have a history of the same kinds of thefts in Charlotte County.

WINK News found through our investigation, that social media helped in the recovery of many of these vehicles.

Victims were known for posting information on Facebook, warning others.

SUSPECTS:

With the assistance of the US Marshals Office, Eddie Deleon was taken into custody in the Sarasota area. During an interview with Deleon after his arrest, he admitted to his involvement with multiple business burglaries in Lee, Hendry and Collier Counties.

Deleon said he and his co-conspirators honed their trade by watching instructional videos on the internet, teaching them how to break into cars and bypass ignition switches. He also admitted to being under the influence of Methamphetamine during the commission of most of these crimes.

Deleon told detectives it was his addiction to the drug that motivated him to commit the crimes in order to feed his habit. However, after seeing himself profiled by Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers for being a repeat criminal offender, Deleon stated that his motivation to commit the crimes changed, and that his goal was, from that point on, to taunt authorities.

In total, Deleon is currently facing in excess of 20 felony charges for his involvement with several business burglaries and motor vehicle thefts in Hendry County. He was also found to be a suspect in a grand theft auto case out of Glades County, and once Deleon is extradited back to Lee County, he will be facing more than 40 additional felony charges for his involvement with burglaries and car thefts here. In addition, he is also a suspect in similar criminal activity in Collier, Sarasota and Charlotte Counties.

During the hunt for Deleon, Dix was found in possession of one of the stolen vehicles taken from one of the first affected businesses. He later used this vehicle in an attempted trailer theft in Hendry County. Last month, Dix committed a grand theft at a local grocery store, which ultimately led to his arrest. He was later charged by Lee County detectives for his involvement with the trailer theft. Dix still remains a suspect in several of the other crimes committed during this spree.

A third suspect, identified as Flint, was apprehended by US Marshals after a warrant was issued for his arrest stemming from his alleged involvement with the theft of a boat in the McGregor Boulevard area of Fort Myers. Detectives from both Hendry and Lee County learned that Flint had brokered a deal to sell the motor from the stolen boat, which was later recovered.  Prior to being taken into custody on that charge, Flint was also identified as a suspect in the stolen boat investigation from Hendry County.  That boat was ultimately recovered in Lehigh Acres near a home which Flint was known to frequent.  The motor from this boat was recovered at a home in Glades County in late January.

Sikes is accused of working with Flint, including the sale of a stolen boat motor to an individual in Glades County. As a result of this case, Hendry County detectives were granted a warrant for Sikes’ arrest for his involvement.

TARGETS:

Deputies say Dodge and Ford trucks are the targets. They advise you to lock your doors, and potentially get a kill switch installed.

PUBLIC HELP:

As of today, all four suspects have been taken into custody for their alleged crimes, which span nearly every pocket of Southwest Florida.

However, detectives firmly believe that there are others who have had involvement in this string of crimes, and they are asking for the public’s help identifying those individuals so that they, too, can have their day in court.

Anyone with information on any vehicle or boat theft, or burglary which may be linked to Deleon, Dix, Flint or Sikes, 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 $1,000.  Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637).