Press Releases

Academy for the Arts vandals
Nov. 22, 2008

It’s been two weeks since a group of young adults busted into a local school, and wreaked havoc in the classrooms while school was out of session. Deputies now hope your information can bring them one step closer to some arrests, and hopeful restitution for the school.

Windows were smashed, doors were broken down, computers were stolen and a school was left in an upheaval – all at the hands of at least three vandals who caused thousands of dollars in damage in a break-in that lasted for several hours.

"It seemed as if they knew where they were going – definitely were comfortable in the area. They knew the areas they could move around in without being detected," said detective Carolynn Gamez of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

The troupe of teens broke in through the back of the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, breaking 43 doors and causing thousands of dollars of damage. Surveillance video shows the break-in started around 1:30 in the morning, and continued until early Sunday morning – when an unexpected visitor showed up.

“The principal happened to show up that morning to pick up something – while he was here, he noticed someone jumping over the fence – and that’s when they actually left," Gamez said.

Although the identities of the suspects aren’t known at this time, there is one thing working in detectives’ favor – fingerprints. Apparently while the suspects were inside the school, rampaging through more than 40 different classrooms, they took a break. They left some sodas and candy wrappers – all with their fingerprints intact.”

Deputies are currently awaiting the results of those fingerprint searches, but are also asking for the public’s help in finding out who these vandals are. They’re confident the suspects are familiar with the Suncoast area – and may even be former students from the school they broke into.

“We’re hoping that someone will have overheard something – maybe bragging about it or talking about it on MySpace – and that they’ll come forward and do the right thing," Gamez said.

At this point, the reported damage is in excess of $10,000 – and school officials expect that figure to rise as they continue to tabulate the cost of all items stolen. And they’re hoping that anyone with information on this crime will clear their conscience, and collect some cash in the process.

Anyone with information about the November 9th break in at the North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for up to $1,000 in cash rewards. Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org.