Watchful neighbors help catch Cape Coral burglars

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Two 18-year-old burglars are now under arrest.

Samuel Hatfield and Travis Morgan are facing charges of burglary and grand theft.

Monday around 5:50 p.m., officers responded to a suspicious call in which two males were trying to pry open a window to a residence on the 1000 block of NW 15 Terrace.

A witness who observed the two suspects kept them in sight as they left the residence and got into a silver car. Other neighbors in the area also provided descriptions of the suspects and the direction in which they were headed.

A suspect vehicle containing two matching suspects was stopped for a traffic infraction near 1100 Santa Barbara Boulevard North.

Other officers walked the area where the two males had last been seen and located a backpack and clothing which matched the initial description given by a witness.

Inside the book bag, officers found a digital scale, a black Casio G-Shock Watch along with a White and Teal Casio G-Shock watch along with paperwork from North Fort Myers High School belonging to Hatfield.

Hatfield was identified as the driver of the vehicle officers stopped. Police say Morgan was the passenger.

Officers on the traffic stop located a Silver/Gold Michael Kors watch with markings along with a Guess dress watch, gold band and black face on the passenger floorboard.

Authorities met with the victim at the residence and determined that the residence had in fact been entered and four watches, matching the descriptions of those found in the backpack and in the vehicle, had been taken without the owner’s permission.

A roadside show-up was also completed with positive identification of the suspects. During the vehicle inventory a plastic bag containing a small amount cannabis was found under the driver’s seat where Hatfield was sitting.

Both suspects were placed under arrest and transported to Lee County Jail.