Fort Myers Beach, FL - Three men have been arrested after they were caught stealing from a Fort Myers Beach restaurant that was damaged by Hurricane Ian.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says the three men were arrested on Tuesday, October 18th around 8:20 a.m. after a Hillsborough County deputy saw a pickup truck back into the parking lot of Liki Tiki BBQ on Estero Boulevard.
The deputy watched as the three men got out of the truck and began looting pieces of hurricane debris around the property.
Authorities say the three men filled the truck with debris before deputies intervened and arrested the suspects, identified as 43-year-old Christopher Thompson, 31-year-old Joseph Burton, and 26-year-old Alexander Thompson.
During a search of the truck, deputies found an opened cash register with no cash in it, as well as a plastic bag with a large amount of single dollar bills.
The owner of Liki Tiki BBQ told deputies his restaurant was decorated with dollar bills that had writing on them from customers.
Detectives found a total of $1,017 in dollar bills inside the truck.
The men were arrested on multiple charges of grand theft and identity fraud.