On March 27, 2019, around 2:09 pm, Officer Esterle responded to a call for service at 2612 NE 5th Place in reference to an in-progress burglary.

Upon Cape Coral Police arrival, the victim stated he and his wife were on the way to their residence when he observed a white Dodge Dakota had pulled into their driveway. As the victim rounded the corner of NE 5th Place from NE 27th Terrace, they both saw a white male, later identified as Jeffrey Jan Hay (W/M, DOB: 04/14/1982, 2629 NE 7th PL), standing near their back yard.

The victim saw the male winding up a 100 foot, orange power cord in their back yard. The victim then pulled his car into the driveway at an angle, ultimately blocking the pickup truck in the driveway.  The victim got out of his car, walked toward the side of the house where he walked past the bed of the Dodge Dakota and saw two of his gas cans in the bed of the truck.

The victim confronted Hay and asked what he was doing and Hay replied how he was checking out the house.  The victim asked Hay why his gas can were in the bed of his pickup truck.  Hay retrieved the gas cans and placed them on the side of the house where they were originally were located.

Hay got into the Dodge Dakota and backed up while the victim took a photo of the license plate. The pickup was able to navigate off the property as the victim took another photo of the vehicle as it drove off the driveway. 

During Officer Esterle’s investigation, he was able to identify and locate Hay at his residence and placed him under arrest which was in great part due to the quick actions of the victim.

Hay was charged with Burglary and Petit Theft. Hay was later transferred to Lee County Jail.

ARRESTED: Jeffrey Jan Hay, W/M, DOB: 04/14/1982, 2629 NE 7th PL

CHARGES: Burglary and Petit Theft