CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Thieves in Cape Coral have their eyes set on a new target: watercraft.
Over the last few weeks, numerous reports have been filed of boats, boat trailers and kayaks being stolen.
The latest target is a 12-foot boat that was parked behind a northeast Cape Coral home. Crooks backed up and stole the boat and trailer on Wednesday morning.
“If you see in the pictures there, the letter, the name of the boat,” said Roxalyn Lopez, speaking on behalf of her friend Carlos who doesn’t speak English. “He named the boat. He put the dolphin. He named it Flipper.”
The boat isn’t a mega yacht, but to Carlos, it’s his everything.
“They put all of their savings in this boat,” Lopez said. “It was a small boat, but they have a passion for fishing.”
He bought Flipper from a neighbor, flipping it from a broken-down boat into a charming little craft.
“Once it was done and in good shape, we parked it in the back,” said Lopez.
It sat behind their home off Diplomat Parkway for two weeks. That’s how long it’s been registered with the State of Florida.
According to Lopez, the boat has only seen the water once and that was for a test drive.
However, it’s now the latest target of thieves.
“You think you’re safe and in the middle of the day some entitled person just comes sneaking around helping themself to your belongings,” said Lisa Hall, who told NBC2 that someone stole her kayaks earlier in the week.
The man was caught on security camera video stealing Hall’s kayak that she bought for her kids.
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Plus, two other kayaks and a kayak lift were reported stolen from a home in southwest Cape Coral.
Earlier this month, yet another sticky-fingered suspect helped himself to a boat trailer that was parked next to a business in southeast Cape Coral.
“The money is the less thing that you’re losing with this because this is, like, the happiness for the people,” Lopez said.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. For Carlos, hard work and a day out on the water will do.
So his friend is pleading to whoever took his boat to please bring it back.
“Please stop stealing and find a job,” Lopez said. “Buy your own happiness.”
You can submit an anonymous online tip to SWFL Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-780-TIPS.
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