2 women arrested, accused of string of 7-Eleven robberies in Lee County

Reporter: Zach Oliveri Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Tamara Thomas (Left) and Erica Rayner (Right) (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of two women accused of a string of 7-Eleven robberies in Lee County.

Sheriff Carmine Marceno said deputies arrested Tamara Thomas and Erica Rayner, both 26 years old.

Surveillance video from one of the 7-Elevens during the robbery. (Credit: LCSO)

The two were caught on camera walking into the 7-Eleven near Gladiolus and Summerlin in south Fort Myers. One suspect used a gun to demand cash while the other ripped off as many lottery tickets as possible. Then, detectives say the pair drove to a 7-Eleven off Palm Beach Boulevard near SR-31 and did the same thing.

Deputies say the women are also responsible for a 7-Eleven robbery in Estero on July 8.

Marceno said that detectives determined the two women were using a stolen license plate on their vehicle during the robberies to try and hide their identity.

“They tried to elude us, it didn’t work,” said Marceno.

Deputies arrested Thomas and Rayner on Thursday after a traffic stop on the vehicle that deputies say was used during the robberies. According to Marceno, Rayner was arrested on several felony warrants, and Thomas was arrested for narcotics.

Marceno said the detectives got a search warrant for the suspects’ home, where they found lottery tickets stolen during the robberies and the gun deputies say was used.

Thomas and Raynor are each facing three charges of armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the 7-Eleven robberies.

You can watch a replay of the news conference in the player below or click here.

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