Collier family believes suspicious people caught on cam stole car

Reporter: Gina Tomlinson Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Still image of neighbor’s surveillance recording shows a suspicious person checking vehicle in a Collier County neighborhood near homes along Livingston Woods Lane. Credit: Shared with WINK News.

A family’s car was stolen in the middle of the night, and they think video recordings of two people snooping around other neighbor’s vehicles are the culprits.

Homeowner Diel Malo believes two unknown individuals caught on a neighbor’s home surveillance stole their car along Livingston Woods Lane in Collier County early Saturday.

“It’s a little eerie feeling, you know?” Malo said. “They just cross over to your property. You should feel safe.”

Malo said an unknown man was seen checking out cars at 2 a.m. And he said this person likely swiped his family’s white 2017 Mazda CX-9. Inside the car, they also lost all their baby gear for their kids.

The Malo family’s stolen white 2017 Mazda CX-9. Credit: Shared with WINK News.

Malo said his hands were full taking care of his two children while exiting their car, and he left the keys in the car accidentally. He woke up this weekend to find his car missing from home, with fresh tire marks on his family’s lawn.

“Brought the kids in, holding one,” Malo said “I got a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old. I just forgot to close it.”

In the middle of the night, Malo’s neighbor, Jesse Glase, caught two suspicious people on her Ring doorbell cam. One person was wearing a bright orange jacket, seen looking into both cars in the neighbor’s driveway. Malo believes that individual is one of the suspects.

“It feels like a violation of your privacy,” Glase said. “It’s scary. It makes you question every car that drives by your house.”

Malo said two baby carriers, a stroller and two car seats were in their car when it was stolen.

“Everything valuable was inside,” Malo said. “It just sucks.”

Anyone with information about this case can call Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-774-4434.

“We’re hoping that these guys get caught,” Malo said.

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