A 43-year-old man was arrested on felony charges Tuesday night after a deputy on patrol spotted him trying to break into a car in East Naples, sheriff’s reports said.James Hardman, 2996 Francis Ave., East Naples, was charged with attempted vehicle burglary, possession of burglary tools, petty theft and criminal mischief.
Arrest reports say a deputy patrolling Francis Avenue saw Hardman crouched behind a parked 1989 Chrysler convertible around 11:15 p.m. Hardman had a tool in his right hand was attempting to remove the car’s license plate, reports said.
Further investigation by the deputy revealed the car was not registered to Hardman.
When the deputy asked Hardman why he was trying to remove the license plate, Hardman told him that he was “taking it off to play a game,” reports said.
The deputy also found that the convertible’s canvas top had been cut and that the rubber seal on one of the side windows had been pried.
A search turned up a box cutter inside Hardman’s left pants pocket and a wrench, reports said.
