Florida Man Charged with New Offenses After Using Kayak in Multiple Car Burglaries

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A man from Cape Coral is now facing further charges following accusations of committing a series of vehicle burglaries over several months.

The Cape Coral Police Department reported that on March 20, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Northeast 18th Avenue at approximately 12:30 a.m. in response to a burglary in progress.

The caller informed police that his home security cameras captured footage of a man dressed in a blue hoodie and light gray sweatpants attempting to open the doors of three locked vehicles parked outside his residence.

The suspect then crossed the street, entered an unlocked car, searched through its contents, and left the scene, according to CCPD.

A K9 unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were deployed during the investigation. The UAV operator observed the suspect entering the backyard of a home on Northeast 17th Place and entering through a rear door. This home is situated opposite a canal.

Officers subsequently made contact with the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Koltin Burns, who was found wearing only boxer shorts and had wet hair, CCPD stated. A wet kayak with a fresh footprint was discovered on the property.

Further investigation connected Burns to multiple vehicle burglaries on Northeast 18th Avenue. CCPD revealed that Burns utilized a kayak to cross the canal and carry out the burglaries.

Burns was taken into custody and transported to the Lee County Jail.

On March 22, officers responded to reports of another vehicle burglary on Northeast 18th Avenue at about 7:43 p.m.

The victim reported that two wallets, cash, and credit cards were stolen from his vehicle. He also found a pink floral makeup bag belonging to his neighbor, which contained some of his stolen belongings as well as property from the neighbor.

The makeup bag had been previously reported stolen, and additional items inside it were linked to another victim, CCPD said.

On April 1, detectives interviewed Burns and were able to connect him to the March 22 incident as well as several other vehicle burglaries, including one that occurred on February 14, according to CCPD.

On February 14, officers responded to Burns' residence after a woman reported her vehicle had been burglarized overnight. She stated that her Apple AirPods had been stolen and were pinging to Burns’ address.

Following the April 1 interview, detectives found numerous stolen items hidden in bushes along the canal bank near Burns’ home. Most of the recovered items showed water damage consistent with being submerged in canal water.

As a result of these findings, additional charges were filed against Burns. He now faces nine counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, one count of larceny, four counts of petit theft, one count of grand theft, and one count of grand theft of a controlled substance.