Man Arrested For Burglary For The 10th Time

A 59-year-old Sarasota man is facing charges for his 10th burglary arrest after Sarasota Police took him in Monday for a Lime Tree Resort break-in, and his latest arrest could lead to more charges. 

Francis Romano Gerry, who listed his mailing address of The Resurrection House homeless day center, is in Sarasota County Jail on $10,000 bond, for the early morning burglary, according to Sarasota Police. 

A burglar entered a room at the resort, 1050 Ben Franklin Drive on Lido Key, and the victim awoke at 4:30 a.m., finding the burglar who claimed he was in the wrong room and quickly exited, according to police. 

The victim then took a short walk on the beach after the break-in, and after 10 minutes returned to find the same man, who police say is Gerry, pacing in front of their room, according to police. The victim decided to call police at that point as Gerry left the area. 

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

Previously, a police detective passed along information to officers about Gerry who was suspected in a series of recent burglaries on Ben Franklin Drive, which lead to Sgt. Shanafelt doing a planned surveillance operation in that area of Lido Key this morning, according to police.

When the victim called, officers arrived to establish a perimeter and start a canine search for the suspect. Officer Harris observed a man matching the suspect's description entering a taxi cab at the Lido Beach Resort, at which was stopped in time for police to bring the victim to identify Gerry as the burglar, according to police.

Gerry was released from a Florida state prison on Oct. 20, 2012, and has been arrested 10 times in the state for burglary charges, according to police. He also was arrested for burglaries in Maine, Arizona, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, according to police. 

Police consider Gerry a suspect in a series of burglaries along Ben Franklin Drive. The convicted felon also has three arrests for burglaries on Ben Franklin Drive in Sarasota—two burglaries in 1999 and one in 2009, according to police.

Anyone with additional information about this case, or the series of burglaries is asked to contact Detective Llovio at 941-364-7336.