Christine Blau 
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — At least three Cape Coral households are out hundreds of pounds following Cape Coral Police say a handyman allegedly stole the income soon after currently being employed to do repairs on their homes.
Law enforcement arrested Robert Doerr Jr. on Wednesday, and they say he stole far more than $20,000 in complete from the victims.
“Mr. Doerr, I really don’t know how you could sleep at night time and carrying out this to all these people,” said Karen Carvalho, allegedly cheated by Doerr. “Why are you ripping individuals off? Seniors never have all this dollars.”
Police started out their investigation immediately after a single sufferer came ahead. Carvalho’s tale with Doerr began back again in June 2022 after she identified him on Fb.
“This male just sat in my living room, in my dining [room] with a smile on his confront,” Karen said. “Created me experience so cozy.”
That’s when she suggests he requested for $7,200 to stucco her household. The pair gave it to Doerr, proper prior to Ian hit.
Soon after Ian, Doerr told the pair he could finish other work for them right after Ian weakened their dwelling. He requested for one more $6,000 that they gave him.
“I saved attempting to get a maintain of Robert,” Carvahlo mentioned “He held telling me ‘You’re on the list, you’re on the list, you are on the listing.'”
Just after waiting around and waiting, with minimal to no perform done, they realized a little something was incorrect.
In the meantime, Cape Coral Law enforcement experienced presently began an investigation at that place.
“We were already doing the job on the scenario, but code enforcement brought it to our interest as properly that hey, this man or woman could quite possibly be unlicensed or operating exterior of the scope of what they’re supposed to be performing,” said Brandon Sancho, spokesperson for Cape Coral Law enforcement. “These people would pry on these susceptible individuals in our group, and we’re not heading to stand for it.”
Carvalho suggests police bought to her just before she could report it. She states they identified her test while investigating.
This type of crime is a little something Sancho says they are looking at additional of.
“We surely have viewed an enhance of these varieties of reports, in particular for the reason that of the hurricane,” he described. “We have a good deal of persons that are outside contractors, anyone that you can assume of that is coming right here to assist our community, try out to select up our parts and resolve points.”
Doerr was local and allegedly owned Precision Painting Professionals and Initially Dwelling Products and services of Southwest Florida. In accordance to point out data, the painting license went into a voluntary dissolution in October 2022. However, the other organization is nevertheless lively.
“I consider it hurts me a lot more realizing he did it to others, right before he did it to me,” Karen claimed.
The couple nonetheless can’t feel some thing like this transpired to them, and they say they tried to give him the reward of the question.
“Who can you belief? I indicate, the guy looked at us, straight in the facial area, nicest man in the earth and he rips us off,” Raymond reported.
Law enforcement do not believe that there are other victims, but the couple wishes any individual to occur forward regardless of whether allegedly cheated by Doerr, or anybody else.
“Allow them know that he did this. He requirements to be taught a lesson,” Karen claimed. “He requires to be responsible and face the implications of his action and prevent ripping people today off.”
Doerr is struggling with a number of prices like exploitation of an aged particular person, scheme to defraud and grand theft.
