PUNTA GORDA POLICE SAY THEY ARRESTED SEVEN PEOPLE INCLUDING SIX TEENS AFTER INVESTIGATING HOME BURGLARIES THERE. POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN TUESDAY WHEN SOMEONE WHO WAS WATCHING A HOME REPORTED THAT IT WAS RANSACKED. THE SUSPECTS GOT INTO THE HOME THROUGH A PET DOOR AND STOLE NUMEROUS ELECTRONIC ITEMS, JEWELRY, A PURSE, AND FOOD. WHILE INVESTIGATING, POLICE OBSERVED 18 YEAR OLD EDWIN NODINE III WATCHING FROM A NEARBY HOME. HIS MOTHER CONSENTED TO A SEARCH AND THEY FOUND SEVERAL STOLEN ITEMS THERE. NODINE WAS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND GRAND THEFT. LATE TUESDAY NIGHT POLICE AND SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SERVED A SEARCH WARRANT AT 6215 QUINCE STREET WHERE THEY FOUND TWO .22 CALIBER RIFLES WITH AMMUNITION BY THE FRONT DOOR. THEY ARRESTED 18 YEAR OLD CODY ARNEY AND 19 YEAR OLD ROBERT EWING ON CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON. IN ADDITION, 36 YEAR OLD SANDRA STEVENS WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THREE OTHERS WERE ARRESTED, INCLUDING 16 YEAR OLD ZEB PARKER OF NORTH FORT MYERS, 17 YEAR OLD JESSICA MERCHENT OF PORT CHARLOTTE AND 18 YEAR OLD NATHANIAL KRUGER OF PUNTA GORDA ON A VARIETY OF CHARGES. POLICE SAY MORE ARRESTS ARE PENDING AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AND THEY ADVISE RESIDENTS TO LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND SECURE PET DOORS IF YOU ARE LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. YOU SHOULD ALSO STOP DELIVERY OF THE NEWSPAPER AND MAIL, AND ASK A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR TO CHECK ON YOUR PLACE. FINALLY, POLICE SAY YOU SHOULD USE TIMERS FOR LIGHTING.
