Deputies track hotel robbery suspect through stolen iPad

Authorities have made an arrest in the investigation into a hotel robbery on International Drive.

Deputies said they were able to locate Malcolm Lee, 26, by tracking an iPad that was stolen during the robbery that occurred on Wednesday evening at the Comfort Inn and Suites, at 7495 Canada Ave.

Investigators said, just before midnight on Wednesday, two armed men forced their way into a room at the hotel after a woman answered a knock on the door. The men ransacked the room, stealing the woman's phone, iPad, and a stun gun. Before leaving, the victim said they made her undress, "so she would not chase them out of the room," according to an arrest report. Deputies said the victim was physically unharmed during the incident.

The two suspects were seen leaving in a black BMW, but there were no other leads in the case.

After questioning the victim, detectives learned of the stolen iPad and began to track the device, which led them to an apartment building inside the Park Hamilton apartments in Pine Hills, near the intersection of Silver Star and Pioneer roads.

Because they could not narrow the search down to a specific unit, deputies began surveillance. Later, the iPad was again tracked to the intersection of Hiawassee and Silver Star roads, where deputies were able to make an arrest.

Authorities said Lee was positively identified by the victim in a photographic lineup. He has been booked into the Orange County Jail on a charge of home invasion with a firearm.

The robbery at the Comfort Inn and Suites is at least the third violent crime that has happened in Orlando's tourist area in less than a week.

Two days earlier, on September 13, deputies were called for another robbery at CoCo Key Resort on International Drive, where an Australian tourist was attacked. Deputies said the tourist was walking back to his hotel, when he was approached by two men. One was holding a knife and stole his bag, which included cash and his passport. Deputies said the hotel did not have any surveillance video, so they have no description of the suspects.

Last week, on September 8, and less than half-a-mile away, a Turkish tourist was robbed and killed as he tried to protect his wife during a robbery. The newlyweds were on their honeymoon and staying at the Wyndam Orlando Resort on I-drive, when deputies said a man approached the couple with a gun.

Anyone with information on any of these cases is asked to call Crimeline 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).