Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 59-year-old Albert Mario Colaluca and 44-year-old Robert Lawrence Wombolt on burglary and grand theft charges after they were allegedly caught on surveillance video breaking into Fishin’ Franks Bait and Tackle on Wednesday night.
Wombolt was also charged with violation of probation.
Video footage showed a white Toyota Camry arrive at the business just before 10:30 p.m. A man got out of the vehicle and looked in the windows, before walking around the business. The suspect had a distinct limp.
About five minutes later, interior surveillance video footage showed the window air conditioning unit being pushed into the business and falling to the floor. A man climbed through the remaining hole, carrying a red Marlboro bag. The man made several trips to and from the window, and appeared to have assistance from someone on the other side.
Deputies recognized one of the suspects in the video immediately as Colaluca, a man he had delt with many times before. The owner of the business also posted the surveillance footage on his Facebook page and within moments, several anonymous callers identified Colaluca to CCSO. He was located and interviewed.
Upon meeting with him, deputies observed the same limp seen in the video, and found rods and reels in Colaluca’s residence.
In the meantime, other tips had been called in regarding who the vehicle seen in the video may have belonged to. CCSO arrived at the woman’s home and observed more fishing gear in the car. When asked about it, the woman said she had lent the vehicle to Wombolt and Colaluca the night before, so they could go see a friend. The woman told deputies Wombolt called her that morning and asked her to wipe off the trunk and doors.
Wombolt was located and interviewed.
Based on all of the evidence, Colaluca and Wombolt were both arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail.