Thomas Wehrung

A young man – who turned 18 two days before Christmas – is wanted on a series of charges, including taking off a court-ordered electronic monitoring bracelet barely 12 hours after it was clamped on his ankle.

Thomas Wehrung has three new warrants for his arrest and is also a suspect in several other crimes countywide, according to officials. He has lived in Cape Coral, but he could be anywhere in Lee County, including Lehigh Acres.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigators said that when Wehrung was 16, he became involved in a busy year of felonious behavior that included a long string of vehicle theft, burglary, drugs and grand theft.

They said he was charged with 25 separate crimes in just one arrest and, as a result of his continued illegal actions, Wehrung was sent to the local Juvenile Detention Center over and over again.

Now because he is of legal age, Wehrung is facing real jail time in a concrete cell with metal bars, housed with other adult offenders, said Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers Coordinator Trish Routte.

In a press release, she pointed out that it is no stretch that Wehrung has a blatant disregard for the law dating back to his youth.

“We have one misguided young man committing an array or crimes throughout Lee County, and as a juvenile there haven’t been firm consequences for his action,” Routte said. “Now that he’s an adult, Wehrung will be introduced to a whole new arena, and he will quickly learn that stealing cars and breaking into homes is no joke and it will not be tolerated.”

Wehrung is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. He has several tattoos, including the words “loyalty” and “cry later” on his left arm.

Authorities are asking the public to help in locating Wehrung by contacting Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at (800) 780-TIPS (8477).

All tipsters with information as to where he can be found will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Tips may also be made online at: www.swflcrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.