Man accused in jewelry store theft
As the result of leads generated by detectives and tips given to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, an arrest has been made in a recent theft at the Dunkin’s Diamonds in Fort Myers.
Richard Sprague, 35, of 2512 40th St., was charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property and defrauding a pawnbroker.
At about 5:10 p.m. Dec. 18, Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 11500 S. Cleveland Ave. and met with the store management, who stated a sales employee was approached by a man who requested to see a gold necklace to purchase.
The sales person showed the man a 28-inch 14-karat yellow gold rope chain.
The man then fled out of the store into an awaiting vehicle with the gold chain.
Sprague reportedly later sold to chain to a local pawn shop. It was valued at $10,000.
No one was injured during the incident.
Due to the nature of the crime, the LCSO robbery unit assumed the investigation.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office