Motel room is burglarized while guests sleep

Posted 4/14/21

Two men staying in a local motel had their room burglarized this week.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Motel room is burglarized while guests sleep

Posted

OKEECHOBEE — Two men staying in a local motel had their room burglarized this week. On April 11 at approximately 10 a.m., Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Deputy Devon Satallante was dispatched to the motel after a 911 call from the manager. When he arrived, he was approached by two men, who told him they woke up to find several things missing from their motel room.

Satallante checked the motel’s security video and saw a man wearing a white tank top and black pants walking back and forth in front of the room. The door to the room had been left partially open and the man is seen looking in the door. The man backs away but comes back and actually enters the room. When he comes out, he is carrying a brown leather bag. The man is later seen entering another room without the bag.

The bag was found later behind an air conditioning unit but was empty. The total value of the missing items is estimated to be about $1,500.

Deputies went to the room the man was seen entering on the video and found Felipe De La Cruz, 26, from Miami, asleep on the bed. Because he reportedly matched the description of the suspect, De La Cruz was arrested and charged with two counts burglary to an occupied dwelling, grand theft and criminal mischief.

When he was searched, deputies reportedly found a check made out to one of the victim’s in De La Cruz’ front pocket. In addition, they reported finding a wallet belonging to the victim, drug paraphernalia and two cell phones submerged in an ice bucket. The phones were also identified by the victims. The $900 cash the men reported stolen was not recovered.

De La Cruz’ bond was set at $14,500.

arrest, OCSO, burglary

Comments

x