Home security camera helps catch Cape Coral Christmas Eve car thief

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested an alleged burglar who was caught breaking into a van on Christmas Eve.

Watch Fox 4’s Alex Orenczuk report on the CCPD arrest of a burglar on Christmas Eve:

Home security camera helps catch Cape Coral Christmas Eve burglar

According to the CCPD, officers responded to a home near SE 46th Street around 5:13 a.m. after receiving a report from a homeowner. He said a man was breaking into his van parked in the driveway.

CCPD said the homeowner was walking out his front door to go to work when he saw the alleged thief.

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A few minutes later, the police found a man in the area who matched the description of the thief. That description, along with a next-door neighbor’s security camera footage of the ordeal, led to the arrest of 19-year-old Jaden Donovan.

Mike Beach, the man whose camera caught the thief in the act, spoke to Fox 4.

“Well, I saw a guy clear as day go into the neighbor’s van,” Beach said. “Watched, zoomed right into it, has 1080p color night vision, all for $35 on Amazon.”

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According to the CCPD, security footage from the public can be invaluable when investigating a crime.

“This video is perfect for an investigation because it’s evidence,” said Officer Mercedes Simonds. “We can immediately take that with what the reporting party said and we have probable cause to make an arrest on this guy.”

While the alleged thief spent Christmas in jail, Beach said he was happy his cell could prevent this from happening to his other neighbors.

“It was one of those Christmas things that feels so great,” Beach said. “I’m not happy it’s happened but I’m happy for all the people coming up and down the street worried about their cars being broken into, it was nice to put everyone’s mind at ease over Christmas.”

Donovan faces one count of theft from an unoccupied vehicle and one count of being late and loitering.