A Cape Coral man has been arrested for what local police reported as a string of thefts over the last four months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michael Nappa, 69, has been charged with retail theft, a third-degree felony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Cape Coral Police Department officials, police were called to Lowe\u2019s Home Improvement on Northeast Pine Island Road on Monday in reference to an in-progress theft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Police officials state when officers met with the store\u2019s loss prevention team, they had detained Nappa, who was identified by his Florida driver\u2019s license and associated with a white Chevrolet Colorado truck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CCPD officials stated its investigation revealed that Nappa allegedly removed the barcode from a Gorilla Double\u2011Sided Tape package ($7.98) and placed it over the barcode of a Heavy\u2011Duty Scotch 4\u2011count roll ($17.98).\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Nappa then proceeded through self\u2011checkout, scanned the lower\u2011priced barcode, passed all points of sale, and was detained by store personnel,\u201d a CCPD release stated. \u201cOfficers later located the ripped Gorilla Tape barcode in Mr. Nappa\u2019s pocket, which matched the discarded packaging and scanned as Gorilla Tape in the store system.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the total loss for this incident was $10, police officials stated that Lowe\u2019s loss prevention said Nappa was a \u201cknown repeat offender\u201d and documented a total of 10 prior retail theft incidents at two Lowe\u2019s locations in Cape Coral. CCPD officials state these incidents occurred between Nov. 13, 2025, and Feb. 9, 2026, within a 120\u2011day period, and involved 10 or more items with a combined total reported loss of $958.73.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn each reported incident, the suspect arrived and departed in the same white Chevrolet Colorado,\u201d CCPD\u2019s release continues to state. \u201cAccording to the reports provided, the prior incidents followed a similar pattern in which the suspect allegedly altered or misused barcodes at self\u2011checkout to pay a lower price than the full retail value of higher\u2011priced merchandise, including decking materials, paper products, trailer lighting, screen mesh and hardware items.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based on the evidence and documentation, CCPD officials stated that probable cause was established for the arrest of Nappa for retail theft under Florida Statute 812.015, a third\u2011degree felony, for allegedly taking possession of merchandise from a merchant, altering or removing labels or price information and committing thefts from more than one location within a 120\u2011day period with an aggregated value exceeding $750 and involving ten or more items.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday morning, Nappa had been released from Lee County Jail on a $2,500 bond.\u00a0<\/p>\n