String of Palm Beach Blvd. business break-ins raises concern

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A series of burglaries at businesses along Palm Beach Boulevard is sparking reaction from some who work along the busy thoroughfare.

The break-ins have targeted four restaurants — Little Caesars, Domino’s, Sir Pizza and Hardee’s — and Ace’s Self Storage over the past few weeks. Those responsible are still at large, authorities said.  A Fort Myers Police Department official said they’re working with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether the robberies are related.

Surveillance video has shown some of the thieves using axes to enter buildings, and all of it has some feeling rattled.

Janis Miners, who works at The Mix Grill on 4921 Palm Beach Blvd., said she’s nervous even though The Mix hasn’t been targeted. She worries about what might happen if that changes, and she sympathizes with people who work at the places that have been hit.

“I could just not imagine the fear that those people … I would just not want to live it. You know?” she said. “No. I feel for them.”

Like The Mix, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on 11841 Palm Beach Blvd. hasn’t been hit in the latest rash of crimes. Robert Klein, the general manager at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, said surveillance video has helped authorities capture those responsible all three times the restaurant has been burglarized in the past.

Miners is hopeful that heavy surveillance at The Mix will keep her and the business safe.

“It’s kinda disturbing at times, but you know we have a lot of safety precautions here at The Mix,” she said.