FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after they say a man stole more than $1,100 worth of hemp products from a Gulf Gas Station on US-41 and fled the store Wednesday afternoon.
The incident happened around 2:51 p.m. at the Gulf Oil Gas Station at 1365 N. Tamiami Trail.
The clerk told deputies a man entered the store and asked to see several hemp products behind the counter. The man eventually asked to see a specific variety of hemp flower, the report added.
When the clerk opened a jar for him to inspect, the man forcefully grabbed the entire jar and ran out of the store, according to the report. As he left, he also grabbed a box containing hemp pre-rolls, the report added.
The man then ran east across N. Tamiami Trail toward Brooks Road and behind another business, where he went out of sight, according to the report.
The stolen items included approximately four ounces of Supreme Hemp THC and about eight packs of Midnight Gas Indica Hemp THC pre-rolls. The total value of the items before tax was $1,119.79, according to the report.
WINK News first reported from the scene Wednesday night. Deputies confirmed Thursday there is no threat to the public at this time, and detectives are actively investigating the incident.
Larry Gonhue has lived across the street in Twin Pines Village, a mobile home community, for the last five years. He said the station’s location could make it easy for someone to leave the area quickly.
“It seems like a nice place. It was clean. They just did a whole bunch of work to it, put a new canopy over it and everything but it’s close to the bridge, so they could do whatever they want and be you know downtown Fort Myers before they know it,” Gonhue said.
Gonhue said he had security cameras installed after items were stolen from his property a few years ago. This situation has put him back on high alert.
“When I first came here, I used to lock my car every night. Then I was like, ‘well it’s gotten a little better,’ but now I think I’ll start locking the car every night now,” Gonhue said.
The store clerk said he was not able to speak with the media.
LCSO said additional information will be released as it becomes available.