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Victims upset about car burglar suspect's 'slap on the wrist' sentence

De'Andrew Walker was arrested in April, almost 4 months after he broke into and ransacked 80 vehicles at an apartment complex.

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By
Adam Pinsker
ESTERO, FL — De'Andrew Walker was arrested in April, almost 4 months after he broke into and ransacked 80 vehicles at an apartment complex.

"Basically a slap on the wrist for somebody that broke into 81 cars," says a man who had his vehicle broken into on Christmas Day, 2016.

The man, who doesn't want to show his face says he was stunned to receive this letter from the State Attorney's office Friday, saying that Walker would be getting probation, and no jail time for burglarizing several cars at the Courtyards at Estero apartments, and at the nearby Embassy Suites.

"So many families affected on Christmas morning, talk about all the stolen presents, cell phones and cash," said the victim.

Others we spoke with right after the crime where shocked when they discovered they're vandalized cars on Christmas morning.

"Glass everywhere, all on the floor, at the hotel, it was a mess," said Terri Gainer, who was staying at the Embassy Suites when her car was broken into.

The state attorney's office wasn't able to get specific information on why walker received no jail time, but a spokesperson says defendants are sentenced on a "point system."

Points accumulate based on a person's criminal history, the higher the points the longer the sentence.

but the anonymous victim doesn't think that will deter Walker.

"If this guy, at the age of 19 years old, is already breaking into 80 vehicles, and doesn't really have to answer for that, that in of itself is a crime."

Another man, Tyrelle Doby was also charged in this incident.

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