Fort Myers police officer’s department-issue rifle stolen from his unlocked car

An AR-15 style rifle was stolen from a police officer, and the search is on for that weapon. Fort Myers police say the rifle was taken from the officer’s unlocked personal car.

It happened off of US-41 near Lakeville Drive in North Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Police Department said their top priority now is recovering that stolen AR-15. They say department policy does not allow weapons to be stored in unsecured locations, and this incident is now under review.

Neighbors in the same neighborhood where the rifle was stolen said they were also hit by the thieves that night. One neighbor heard his dogs barking early Monday morning. “At 4:30 in the morning, you know, quite not awake. Didn’t really pick up on it,” said Louis M.

Louis said deputies knocked on his door later that morning and told him thieves had hit his car. “My fuel gauge is now busted. It wasn’t busted before. It’s busted now. So, they apparently shoved something down in the tank,” Louis said.

He is one of two neighbors that said they discovered gas had been siphoned from their vehicles. Another neighbor didn’t want to appear on camera but said her car was ransacked as well. “I had about $30 in cash in my (car), and coins. But no coins were taken.” She said the cash was stolen.

Deputies dusted for fingerprints on her car, and nearby, the thieves also targeted the personal vehicle of a Fort Myers police officer. That is where they took his department-issued AR-15. Neighbors say this is totally out of the norm.

“You get worried because everybody here is very nice and peaceful, and everybody gets along. We never have problems, you know,” said neighbor Diane Kempf.

FMPD said the officer’s car was left unlocked. Other neighbors made the same mistake but said they wouldn’t be making that mistake again. “I would like to put and motion detector and also, too, a camera from now on to protect my property, and hopefully, everyone else in the neighborhood,” said Louis.

FMPD urges anyone with information about the stolen rifle or the suspects to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, where you are eligible for a $3,000 reward for helpful information.

Police also say this incident reinforces their continuous message on crime prevention; stay vigilant and lock your doors.