- April 24, 2024
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Port Orange police arrested Johnny M. Swanger for burglary, and several Ormond Beach residents believe he may be responsible for stealing from their homes, as well.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
A Port Orange man, arrested for burglary, has been connected to at least three similar incidents in Ormond Beach.
Johnny M. Swanger, 45, was charged with unarmed burglary and grand theft in Port Orange Jan. 29, in connection to a crime that happened days earlier, when Swanger was accused of stealing items from a victim after entering the home on the pretense of spraying for pest control.
Following media reports of Swanger’s arrest, three local residents have since contacted the Ormond Beach Police Department and said they suspect Swanger stole from their homes, as well.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has also reported two victims believe Swanger stole from them.
All Ormond Beach victims reported similar stories, that sometime during the previous 12 months, various pieces of jewelry went missing after Swanger visited their homes for regular work.
One of the Ormond Beach victims told police she never suspected Swanger until she saw the media reports.
Another victim told police she had noticed several pieces of jewelry missing over the past year, and recognized Swanger from his mugshot as the her handyman, who she also paid to do pest control work for the past year or two.
Swanger, according to report, is well known in the Port Orange victim’s subdivision because he used to work for Dave’s Pest Control. He allegedly went to the victim’s home the day after the company had sprayed and told them he was there because droppings were found in the bathroom.
Then, according to the report, the victim’s father-in-law, a 82-year old man, let Swanger enter the home and spray for bugs. The victim’s father-in-law told police he only left Swanger alone for a short period of time, but, after the victim returned home, he reported to law enforcement that two rings had been taken.
Swanger’s vehicle, a white pickup truck with a Pittsburgh Steelers vanity license plate on the front bumper, was recorded by video surveillance attempting to enter the Port Orange subdivision the day of the theft.
According to the report, Swanger is seen attempting to enter a code to open a gate, which was unsuccessful. He was later filmed entering the subdivision by following another vehicle.
Law enforcement, after its investigation, found Swanger had sold several pieces of jewelry to a Daytona Beach pawn shop, including the day the Port Orange incident was reported, and had been doing business with the pawn shop on a regular basis, according to the report.
The victim’s wife was able to identify a photo of one of the stolen rings Swanger sold to the pawn shop, and the victim’s father-in-law was able to identify Swanger in a photo lineup.
Residents who have had Swanger in their home and later discovered missing property can call the Ormond Beach Police Department, at 248-1777, or the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, at 423-3301.
