LANTANA, Fla. (CBS12) — A man suspected of committing several vehicle burglaries was arrested early Tuesday morning by Lantana Police after officers responded to a call about a suspicious person rummaging through unlocked cars.
At around 2 a.m., police met a victim who had confronted the suspect, later identified as Patrick Fontaine, who fled on foot heading northbound on North Atlantic Drive, near Hypoluxo Island. The victim provided a description, which matched that of the burglar responsible for several vehicle break-ins in the area, including on South Atlantic Drive and Manalapan on November 26.
Fontaine, unaware of his dead-end location surrounded by the ocean, attempted to evade officers by hopping fences and hiding in backyards. The police created a perimeter around the area, even utilizing a drone to track Fontaine’s movements. He was eventually found and apprehended without incident.
The Lake Worth resident is suspected of burglarizing six or seven vehicles. Fontaine now faces serious charges, including seven counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, four counts of larceny, one count of possession of a controlled substance, and seven counts of possession of burglary tools with intent to use.
Fontaine has been booked and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
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