Police: Cape man burglarized two homes, stole items inside

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 7/7/09

A Cape Coral man was arrested and charged in two separate burglary incidents, one reported May 20 and another this past weekend, officials said Monday.

Joey Ray Sepulveda, 23, of 3023 S.W. Santa Barbara Place, was initially charged with occupied burglary, two counts of theft more than $300 but less than $5,000, three counts of dealing in stolen property and three counts of violating the Pawnbroker Act, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.

Jail records indicate Sepulveda is currently charged with five counts of fraudulently pawning items less than $300, five counts of dealing in stolen property, three counts of theft $300 or more but less than $5,000, unarmed burglary of a dwelling and violation of probation for cocaine possession.

According to police, Sepulveda burglarized a home in the 3500 block of Southwest First Avenue at about 2 p.m. Saturday.

The homeowner told police that she had returned home to find Sepulveda in her kitchen rifling through her belongings.

Sepulveda fled when the homeowner confronted him, but was later located by a Lee County Sheriff's Office helicopter and detained, police said.

Police reportedly discovered multiple bags filled with belongings from the victim's home. They also found stolen Red, White & BOOM! tickets and the victim's husband's wallet in Sepulveda's possession.

Sepulveda told officers that he served as a lookout in the Saturday incident, but admitted to swiping items in an earlier burglary and pawning them for cash.

Police said Sepulveda stole two television sets, a laptop and personal checks from a relative in an incident reported May 20, then pawned the televisions and laptop at three separate Fort Myers pawn shops.

Sepulveda remained in custody Monday evening at the Lee County Jail, according to jail records.