Collier Sheriff's Office requests help to find 1932 Ford Roadster stolen from Estates

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to find a 1932 Ford Roadster that deputies said was stolen from a Golden Gate Estates home.

The vehicle was removed from a driveway in the 500 block of 21st Street Southwest sometime between 6:30 p.m. Sunday and 10:30 a.m. Monday, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

The car owner, Michael Paletta, said he returned from an auto show at the Lee Civic Center with the Roadster on Sunday evening and parked it in his driveway. The next morning he noticed it was gone.

Paletta said he owns a few other antique cars, but the Roadster, which he routinely drove to work and has had for a little more than a year, was his most coveted one, he said.

"It was my baby," he said. "It was my favorite car ever." 

Investigators wrote in the Sheriff's Office report that the car was valued at about $50,000. However, Paletta said it's actually worth closer to $125,000.

"These cars are works of art," he said, referring to antiques such as his Roadster.

Paletta said he suspects someone followed him home after the auto show Sunday. Although he said he is trying to remain hopeful, it is hard to say where the car might be.

"There's no telling," Paletta said. "It could be anywhere."

The Roadster is orange with a brown interior and tan convertible top, according to the Sheriff's Office. Its Florida license plate number is 3240RD, the report states.

Authorities asked that anyone with information about the vehicle or the theft call the Sheriff's Office at 239-252-9300.