Cape Coral police have arrested and charged Benjamin Rodriguez Jr., 21, of 1014 Nelson Road, with burglary and grand theft in connection to a nighttime auto burglary.

At 10:45 p.m. Sunday, officers from the 3rd Platoon responded to a burglary in progress in the 600 block of Northwest Sixth Street. A woman came outside of her home and observed a stranger inside of her neighbor’s car, which was parked in the neighbor’s driveway.

Officers arrived in the area within minutes and set up a perimeter. An officer made contact with a man, later identified as Rodriguez, walking within the interior of the perimeter.

Rodriguez was dressed in black clothing, as described by the woman, and was wearing a stocking on his head. He had fresh dirt and wet grass on his shoes, clothes and arms, and Rodriguez was sweating profusely.

A police K-9 tracked from the scene of the break-in to where officers had Rodriguez detained.

The woman was brought to the scene, where she positively identified Rodriguez as the person she saw.

Rodriguez was also in possession of a bag containing property belonging to the burglary victim.

The property was returned to the victim, and Rodriguez taken into custody.

He was transported to the Lee County Jail, where he was booked.

“This was a textbook example of a citizen choosing to get involved in the right way. She called the police department immediately, giving us a chance at catching the criminal, which we did,” Lt. Tony Sizemore, the CCPD’s spokesman, said. “This was a great catch by officers from the 3rd Platoon, along with the K-9 unit.”

Source: Cape Coral Police Department