PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Briefcase thief suspect is sought by Lee County Sheriff’s investigators.

Trish Routte, coordinator of Crime Stoppers in Lee County says the search is on for a suspect who broke into a parked occupied car and stole a briefcase from the trunk.

Routte said the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has both stills and video of the suspect and Crime Stoppers is asking for help from the public so the suspect can be nabbed.

The incident occurred, Routte said, on May 2 at about 11 p.m. Anyone who was near the Race Trac gasoline station and convenience store at 5570 Lee Blvd., may recall something that can lead investigators to the suspect. Others may recognize the suspect from surveillance tape.

The person whose stole the briefcase did so after the victim or owner of the car pulled into the Race Trac parking lot.

Routte said the man went inside the store and when he returned to his car, his son who had been left inside, told his father that a black male had pulled up behind the car and opened the trunk, then shutting it before racing away.

Routte said the driver looked into his trunk and saw that his briefcase had been stolen.

A video surveillance at the store provided investigators with images of a dark blue or black Chrysler 300 next to the victim’s car.

Routte said when the victim went into the store, the driver of the Chrysler backed up and started to drive away, then stopped and backed up behind the victim’s car.

The video clearly shows the Chrysler’s driver’s side door open, with someone getting out and opening the victim’s trunk.

Routte said seconds later, the suspect shut the trunk door and fled from the parking lot. Also caught on the surveillance video is the driver/suspect of the Chrysler, who entered, and left the Race Trac before the victim arrived.

In a news release, it is asked that anyone who knows anything about this case to help by supplying information on the identity of the suspect/driver of the Chrysler. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 780-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword being REWARD.