Lee County Sheriff's deputies are shown loading stolen appliances on a truck earlier today. Some 180 appliances were stolen and four people have been charged. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Lee County Sheriff’s officers have made what they call a major bust Friday in the theft of some 180 new appliances stolen from homes all over Lee County. The appliances were being housed at a business on Gunnery Rd., that advertised new and used appliances for sale.

Deputies loaded appliances onto three box trucks until after noon. They are being collected as evidence in one of the largest heists of stolen appliances in Lee County.

John Sheehan, a spokesman with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, could not give the value of the stolen appliances, Friday, but afer an inventory over the weekend the value of the stolen appliances were listed to about $130,000.

He said there has been an ongoing investigation by the Sheriff’s Office for some time in the theft of appliances, but an arrest two weeks ago concerning stolen appliances led them to the Salguera Appliance store at 2401 Gretchen Ave., just off Gunnery Rd. South before 23rd St. Friday.

As deputies loaded up one truck Friday morning, two more were brought in to fill with more appliances. Sheehan said four arrests have been made.

Arrested and charged are the following:

Roberto Salguera, of 4108 W 14th Street, Lehigh Acres – (Charged with four counts of dealing in stolen property)

Maria A. Tenorio, of 4108 W 14th Street, Lehigh Acres (Charged with four counts of dealing in stolen property)

Matthew Vincent Bond, listed as a transient (Charged with one count of burglary to a dwelling, one count of Larceny Theft and one count of dealing in stolen property)

Eric Allen Downey, of 1136 SW 44 Street, Lehigh Acres (Charged with two counts of burglary to a dwelling, two counts of larceny theft and one count of dealing in stolen property)

The investigation is ongoing. Additional arrests and charges are pending.

The appliances included new refrigerators, washers and dryers, water heaters, water conditioner units, stove ranges, microwaves, new doors, and other items, all stolen from unoccupied homes in Lee County, Sheehan said. According to a report, the items were taken from homes that were in foreclosure.

Citizens with questions or concerns regarding appliance thefts or purchases from Salguera’s Appliances should call (239) 477-1878.

If the victim of an appliance theft has the serial number for their stolen item, but did not provide that serial number to the deputy at the time the report was compiled, call (239) 477-1878.