Man throws statute, table, chair at Cape Coral businesses in attempted break-in
CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A man was caught on camera vandalizing at least two Cape Coral businesses early Friday morning.
The man was seen stumbling through the shopping mall at 4419 South Del Prado Boulevard just after 2 a.m. That’s when he used a variety of objects to cause extensive damage to a cigar bar and lounge as well as an art store.
“I just feel a little violated. Like, why would you do that,” said Kimber Phillips, the owner of Kimber’s Wine and Cigar Lounge.
She arrived to her business Friday morning looking to get some paperwork done. Instead, she was met with a mess outside on the patio.
“It looked like there had been a tornado,” she said.
Her chairs were cast around, tables tossed and her door destroyed. But what was strange is that no one broke in.
“I would’ve been really, really been more hurt to walk in to find my bar vandalized or broken into,” she said.
The security cameras on the building recorded the man walking and wobbling along around 2:10 a.m. on Friday.
“He definitely looked like he was drinking,” Phillips said.
Being a nuisance under the night sky, he picked up a patio char sitting outside of the cigar bad and threw it at the door three times.
“He definitely tried to break in,” she said.
The glass in the door shattered, but it never gave way. As some would say, he was close, but no cigar.
“I had a black tint in the back, a plastic film, I think that’s what saved the day,” Phillips said.
Just one door down, the man’s midnight mayhem continued. All that remains of a six-foot statue that stood outside Canine Clips by Iris are just a few concrete crumbles.
“He’s absolutely dumb,” said Iris Anderson, the owner of the business. “This is 2022. There’s cameras everywhere.”
He didn’t seem to care about the cameras or the blaring sign that warned of a nightwatch consisting of K9s.
Iris said the man attempted to break into her business as well. He picked up the statue and slammed it into the door, damaging the window.
“He tried to Jimmie it because there’s marks on the inside of the door,” she said. “Go get a job. Just go get a job.”
“I think you’re a jerk,” Phillips added.
She also thinks the man’s idea went up in smoke. With the footage and fingerprints that officers were able to pull from the items touched by the man, she’s hopeful that his idea of breaking in for some wine will end up with him doing some time.
If you know who this man is, you can submit an anonymous online tip to SWFL CrimeStoppers or call 1-800-780-TIPS.
