Video catches burglar in car; steals rent money from a East Naples mom

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EAST NAPLES, Fla. – A crook is caught on camera stealing from a mother who is trying to put food on the table.

The break-in happened while the mom was working. Her car was parked outside the Anchor Bar and Grill on Bayshore Drive in East Naples.

“Oh, my gosh,” said the victim while watching the surveillance footage. “It’s horrible, horrible.”

The act unnerving, the victim says “it feels weird, I don’t even want to get in my car.”

The victim asked us to keep her identity private but she shared her story with us.

In the video, you can see a man on a bike pull up next to the white car in an Atlanta t-shirt. It shows the man checking the victims door handle, noticing it’s unlocked and then letting himself in on the other side.

The victim tells WINK News she always locks her door but on Monday she was in a hurry and must have not hit the keypad hard enough.

“I was running rushing and I guess I didn’t “beep” it hard enough. I had it [purse] sitting on the seat. I left one job to come to another. I have three jobs,” the victim explained.

The crook spends several seconds rummaging around in the car while smoking a cigarette. The video shows him eventually stealing the woman’s backpack purse, a gift card, a credit card and $650 in cash.

“The money, I don’t know I can make more,” said the victim of her loss. “It’s just my kid needed his rent and I feel bad. That is what bothers me is he needed it and I can’t give it to him.”

If you recognize the crook, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-252-9300.

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