Police: Man burglarizes Cape homes; Allegedly used stolen items to decorate own Cape home

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 5/19/09

A Cape Coral man allegedly told police he had burglarized between five and 10 homes since he became a resident this month - trying to keep up the appearance of his home.

Police said they arrested the man after a neighbor caught him stealing from a vacant rental home in her neighborhood.

Stephen Clifford Proctor, 46, has been arrested and charged in the May 11 burglary of a vacant home on Southwest 36th Terrace.

He could not provide the addresses of any of the previous burglaries, and has not been charged in those incidents.

Proctor's arrest came after a neighbor spotted him entering the home with his two pet dogs and stealing items, according to a police report.

The homeowner reportedly told police the residence has been vacant for about three months, and that it is a rental property. The homeowner said she did not know Proctor, nor did she give him permission to take things from the home.

A female resident claimed to have seen Proctor taking several items from the home, located in the 1300 block of Southwest 36th Terrace, including a hose caddy and several other small items.

She reportedly followed Proctor to another vacant home in the 3400 block of Southwest 11th Court, where she confronted him.

"She took photos of the vehicle, a red Jeep Cherokee, and noted the Georgia license plate number," city police spokesperson Connie Barron wrote in Monday's release.

When Cape police ran the tags, they reportedly discovered the number was not registered to anyone, but also noted that the same vehicle had been involved in a "burglary in progress" in December. At that time, the tag number had been registered to Proctor.

Cape officer Mark Bowman spotted the Jeep parked at Proctor's home at 931 S.W. 36th St. Thursday. Officers with Platoon 4 and the Street Crimes Unit maintained surveillance on the Jeep.

On Friday, detectives Jason Hicks and Nick Jones met with Proctor, who reportedly admitted to the burglary, one of between five and 10 since May 1.

Proctor was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and petit larceny. He posted $5,500 bond and was released Friday afternoon, according to Lee County Jail records.