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Microphone helped prevent burglary at Bonita jewelry store; deputy fired shot at suspect
CHUCK CURRY
A suspect in the attempted burglary at Congress Jewelers in Bonita Springs crashed into this nearby culvert after allegedly attempting to hit a Lee County Sheriff's deputy. The truck had been reported stolen earlier in Fort Myers.
CHUCK CURRY
Burglars tried to smash the glass of the front door of Congress Jewelers in Bonita Springs on Friday, July 11.
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As they stood beneath the green awning that fronts Congress Jewelers, the four masked men may have thought they were alone early Friday morning.
But someone was listening to every word they said.
Tiny microphones placed around the store were broadcasting the burglars’ conversation to alarm company representatives in Fort Myers, who immediately alerted Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies about the impending break-in.
“They were actually able to hear these guys discuss how to break into the store,” said Scot Congress, owner of the nine-year-old store at U.S. 41 and Bernwood Parkway.
The thieves never got inside. When deputies arrived, the four were kneeling at the front door, banging a cast iron water meter cover into the security glass, an arrest report stated. Their work left a network of spidery cracks on the door, but accomplished little else.
Three of the men escaped and one was arrested. Patrick Deon Wilson, 30, of 702 Prospect Ave., Fort Myers, now faces charges of vehicle theft, burglary and possession of burglary tools.
The arrest report said Wilson is “involved in the burglary business.”
The confrontation between cops and robbers had a frightening moment — according to the arrest report, Wilson tried to run over an officer, who, in turn, fired at the suspect — but no one was severely injured.
Congress seems okay with the outcome. His front door, made of a triple-layered security glass suffered $15,000 in damage, but he didn’t lose any jewelry.
Last December, three burglars hit his store for more than $100,000 in jewelry.
They had been quick and precise, one man laying down a plastic sheet, as the other two smashed the cases and dumped the jewelry onto the sheet.
“It was like an assembly line,” Congress said.
Friday’s burglars couldn’t get past the front door.
“My guess is it couldn’t be the same guys, because they did not know how to get inside this store,” Congress said.
According to Wilson’s arrest report, around just before 2:30 in the morning, four men dressed in dark hoods and masks backed a stolen black Dodge Ram truck to the east side of the store, away from U.S. 41.
They grabbed the iron lid from a nearby water meter, Congress said, and crawled to the front door, in hopes of eluding the building’s outside cameras.
Once at the door, Congress said, the men started talking about their plans.
“They were on our tapes,” he said. “It was about eight minutes of preparation.”
That was more than enough time for dispatchers at the alarm company to understand the conversation and call county deputies.
The men scattered on sight of the officers, the report said. Three ran east, toward the parking lot of The Prado shopping center, as Wilson went for the truck. After driving out of the jewelry store lot, he tried to pick up his accomplices, before giving up and driving for the parking lot exit.
When Wilson saw a deputy in his way, the report said, he tried to run over him. The deputy moved from the truck’s path and fired a round at Wilson, according to reports. He missed, but Wilson soon lost control of the truck, as a cruiser took up the chase. He hit a ditch just to the south of the store, where he was arrested.
Deputies soon began a manhunt to search for the other three suspects.
“We counted 18 cruisers here, two helicopters, and four detectives, all within 20 minutes of [responding],” Congress said.
The men still haven’t been found as of press time Friday.
Congress said he’s taken some lumps in his 30 years of experience as a jeweler. He owns five stores in Lee and Collier counties, several of which have been robbed before. Still, none seem to attraction the attention of the Bonita Springs, easily visible off U.S. 41.
His insurers require certain precautions, which help deter the thieves. The store has two alarm systems, one triggered by microphones and the other triggered by crossing the threshhold of the store. The cases and doors are made of a thick, triple-layered security glass. The building is covered by 68 video cameras.
And the store never leaves more than five percent of its jewelry within the cases each night.
Despite it all, break-ins still happen.
The flagging economy and the rising price of gold make the capers more attractive, Congress said.
All he can do is armor his store as best he can.
“The rest is out of your hands,” he explained. “In this business, you can’t let these things get to you.”
Comments
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"deputy fires shot"
dang, did the officer miss?
#1 Posted by pit_stop on July 11, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
naplestrek, you may be correct but in all fairness, shooting at a range one round at a time and a discharge in the line of duty, at 2:30 AM in the darkness are far different. That's why firing multiple rounds, just to be sure, is the best way to go...Triple tap!
#2 Posted by mattmaki on July 11, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe you idiots should consider the deputy was firing a warning shot? I am sure you would be the first ones screaming to the ACLU if one of the suspects was killed for trying to run from a minor crime!
#3 Posted by RadioNews on July 11, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to owners of Congress Jewelers,
for providing great examples of actions to reduce crime with PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY by citizens and private property owners.
Government over-regulating and over-spending create unintended consequences.
When government assumes many duties, it's tougher to do the important ones right.
#4 Posted by jacktanner on July 11, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RadioNews, maybe you should read the posts. It seems we want MORE shots and more hits to rid the world of these lovely human beings.
Only an idiot considers a B&E into a jewelry store a 'minor crime.'
#5 Posted by mattmaki on July 11, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
matt, all they did was crack a window. Should we kill a person for that? And if killing people is your idea of justice, than maybe you should move to a nice country where morons like you florish. Just get the hell out of mine!
#6 Posted by RadioNews on July 11, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All they did was crack a window? What if they abducted your 5 year old daughter but were arrested on the front yard before they were able to rape and kill her? Your telling me no harm, no foul?
I prefer not to live in a country where hugging criminals is the preferred method. Nope, I like the lawful authority to blow people away for threatening my life and property, where we juice killers and rapists and inject burning chemicals into their arms so they can squirm and wiggle before they die.
#7 Posted by mattmaki on July 11, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
matt, you just make my point even clearer. The only law they broke was cracking a window. Now if you want to get all dramatic about it go ahead. The punishment should fit the crime, and thank God it's not up to you to decide window breakers should get the death penalty. Just think if being stupid was a crime you certainly would be on Death Row!
#8 Posted by RadioNews on July 11, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
re read it guys,, the Deputy fired in self defense,,, the dirtbag tried to run him down with the pick up truck, matter of fact he Could have cleared the deputy completely ,but made the Choice to try to kill the Deputy,,,,,combat shooting is worlds apart from the range,,,,
#9 Posted by Bullbat on July 11, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmmm, lets see, "tried to run down the deputy". Maybe he was just trying to get away and the deputy stepped in front of the truck to stop him? Until you know the facts, please stop trying to be as ill-informed as the NDN. Maybe try actually reading the incident report instead of jumping to conclusions just because a cheap second rate small town newspaper says its so!
#10 Posted by RadioNews on July 11, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW radio, could you be any more liberal,whining, crybaby, with your cutsie BS. If you truly believe he was only there to break the window, you have a demented view of reality.
#11 Posted by pokerbuddy on July 11, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dearest Burned out Radio Tube head, if I ever run across some punks beating your head in with a baseball bat, I promise not to intervene, after all, it could only be batting practice, not robbing you. You and your kind are what's wrong with this country. Your testicles are left at home when it comes to preventing crime. Oh, wait, you don't have any. Sorry Radio head.
#12 Posted by cit10driver on July 11, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Radio: Need some more obama bumper stickers?
#13 Posted by cousinjed on July 11, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Radio must be a NDN plant to generate more blogging. I can't see anyone being that stupid.
#14 Posted by Flacrkr on July 11, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You really have to know Scot Congress, to know what a generous and benevolent person he is, along with his brother and his 'family' of employees. There isn't a charity or cause that they would ever say NO to. They are givers, and they give from the bottom of a very BIG HEART!
To think that anyone would ever try and steal from these people is repugnant to me. If you are so down and out that you must resort to theft, just ask Scot for help; I doubt he would say no to someone in need.
We all need to patronize Congress' stores...they do a lot for their neighbors, we should give them our business.
Scot and family; please don't let these attempts to steal from your business' sway you from your generous offerings. On behalf of the public from Lee and Collier County...we greatly appreciate all that you continue to do for your fellow neighbors.
#15 Posted by MarcoRobert on July 11, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RadioNews... Warning shot?? Maybe they could have shot the gun out of his hand.. Or maybe they could have done a warning shot, and that round would have landed inside someone's house so you could whine and complain some more. Get real. Your plastic bubble will pop one day and you will see how life is really played out.
#16 Posted by Parkmeister on July 11, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Parkmeister #19,,,,, i bet his bubble is "" made of a thick, triple-layered security glass"",,, so he/she will be protected from reality,,,,,,lol,,,,,,
also i know of no LE agency in this country that fires Warning shots, as stated in the above post,its way to dangerious to the general public,,UNLESS its fired into a non-lethal part of the dirtbags anatomy,with the second shot of the double tap,hitting a kill zone,,,,
#17 Posted by Bullbat on July 11, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG!
RadioNews needs to have someone violate him directly and personally to see the victims point of view.
If it does happen, I would feel just as sorry for you as I would any other victim but I would finally believe in Karma.
BTW: Please don't ever become a cop. Looking the other way all the time (as you preach) would cause you a neck injury and you'll end up on disability sucking the system dry.
#18 Posted by TiredoftheBS on July 11, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#4 Posted by RadioNews. Deputies do not fire warning shots, If they draw their weapon they fully intend on protecting themselves or the lives of another. Warning shots are a liabilty.
#10 Posted by RadioNews. All they did was crack a window? LMAO AND if they could've gotten inside ALL they would've done was stolen some jewelry. They fully intended on getting inside, hence the 8 minute time preparing outside.
Your a putz Radio, take your medication and stop while your ahead seriously!!!
#19 Posted by Jadip811 on July 12, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#9 Posted by RockfordGrad. I think microphones being advertised might be a deterrent to incidents like this.
NDN and local papers reported it, blame them for divulging that info, not Congress.
#20 Posted by Jadip811 on July 12, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#14 Posted by cit10driver LOL tooo funny. And you know he would be the first one whining about police protection and where were the cops when HE personally needed help, provided he survived. LOL
#21 Posted by Jadip811 on July 12, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Really all, I could care one way or the other about this issue, I just like to see the stupid people come out all rattled and spew! Just call it a sick little hobby of mine. Shows just how weak you all are to be controlled by just a few words by me! I do love the power! Lesson over for today kiddies!
#22 Posted by RadioNews on July 12, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#25 Posted by RadioNews
**QUOTE**
I could care one way or the other about this issue
**END**
I don't believe you!
I believe you truly believe that the criminals have more rights than the victims because they did it first. "Do unto others before they do unto you".
I believe you truly are a liberal anarchist, who believes a person should be allowed to do whatever he wants, with full rights, no matter the implications (as long as it does not affect you adversely).
I base this on your past posts on numerous issues on just about any topic you chose to post.
#23 Posted by TiredoftheBS on July 12, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys would have to know RadioNews to appreciate what he's doing. My advice is to completely ignore him. He's yanking your chain as he stated. He's actually a gun totin rascal who'd just as soon shoot ya between the eyes if you tried to take something from him.
#24 Posted by goodview on July 12, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Breaking the window wasn't the only crime anyway.
THEY STOLE THE TRUCK FIRST.
It was more than some kids pulling a prank.
I guess you forgot the Grand Theft Auto part.
#25 Posted by ljfroloff on July 12, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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