CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Cape Coral police arrested Richard Steven Chinn, 47, after linking him to multiple burglaries in November.
The first reported incident occurred on Nov. 7 along SW 26th Avenue. Homeowner Brice Kitchell said a suspect broke into his vehicle, stealing cash, a camouflage jacket, and a softball bag belonging to his daughter. Surveillance footage captured a man carrying bulky items away from the vehicle.
Another burglary happened on Nov. 20 along SW 38th Street. Security footage showed a man on a pink bicycle enter a garage and steal a modified scooter, complete with a trailer-style attachment, red helmet, and American flag, valued at $1,000.
Investigators connected Chinn to these crimes. On Nov. 22, police found him hiding beneath trash cans near recent burglary sites, wearing the stolen camouflage jacket from the Nov. 7 incident. Chinn was initially arrested for loitering, prowling, and resisting an officer without violence.
Further investigation revealed stolen items, including the softball bag, discarded at a friend’s residence associated with Chinn. Officers executed a search warrant at Chinn’s home, recovering additional stolen property.
Chinn now faces charges of:
Burglary of an occupied dwelling
Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
Grand theft
Petit theft
Kitchell said he is relieved by the arrest: “100%, I am happy to get him off of the streets. Since he moved into the neighborhood a few weeks ago, it’s been nothing but problems.”
