Capt. Ed Tamayo, commander of Bravo Station at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Lehigh said a citizen was aware of appliances stolen by a suspect vehicle in Cape Coral on April 14.

Tamayo said the citizen observed the same vehicle and trailer later on Lee Blvd. in Lehigh Acres. He called the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and a BOLO broadcasted by LCSO Communications Division. Deputies Joshua Quaintance and George Camacho located the vehicle at Colonial Blvd and I-75, Tamayo said.

Upon stopping the vehicle, Forest Franks, 29, said he worked for a realty firm, and that his job was to pick up appliances from homes purchased at auction, for repair and storage.

Deputy Quaintance contacted Franks’ boss and learned that Franks job was to inspect the homes, before auction, not to take appliances. Deputies were able to confirm that Franks stole appliances from two houses in Lehigh Acres, Tamayo said.

Deputies Nora Galloway and Kenneth Sherman were able to locate these homes. The homes were located on Carbon St. and 3rd Street SW in Lehigh. Forest Franks was charged with two counts each of burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property. The Cape Coral Police department was notified about the possibility of similar crimes in their jurisdiction. Tamayo said.