64 Arrested in Multi-County Auto Theft Crackdown

With auto thefts on the rise in both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, law enforcement agencies in both areas decided to team up for a joint crackdown.

The Auto Theft Task Force began operating on Aug. 14 with involvement from the Tampa and St. Petersburg Police Departments and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Within the first five weeks of the joint operation, police announced on Friday that a total of 64 arrests have been made. Of those charged in the operation, 36 were adults and 28 juveniles. One juvenile, authorities noted in an email to media, was arrested twice by the task force.

All told, 171 charges were filed, including 37 for grand theft auto, 19 for fleeing and eluding, 19 for resisting arrest without violence, 12 for conveyance burglaries and 11 for driving on suspended licenses. A number of other charges were also filed.

“We recognize that although our jurisdictions are defined by geographical boundaries, crime is not,” St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said in a press conference about the arrests. “In order to address this type of crime pattern and fight the rising number of auto thefts more effectively, we recognize that there is a need for an ongoing, collective enforcement effort.”

Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward said the cooperative effort signals good news for the Bay area.

“The fact that our law enforcement agencies are effectively and aggressively working together is good news for the citizens of Tampa Bay, and bad news for criminals,’’ Ward said. “We recognized that we had a problem that spanned the Tampa Bay area, so we created a solution that did the same.”

That problem, all three agencies say, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent months.

When January to June numbers for 2014 and 2015 were compared, the rise was dramatic. The St. Petersburg Police Department reported a 23 percent increase in auto thefts year over year, Tampa 47.4 percent and Pinellas County 31 percent.

Task force members noted that many of the vehicles stolen happened to be unlocked.

“This, in and of itself, should send a powerful message to residents on both sides of the Bay that they hold the key to protecting their vehicles by simply locking their car doors,” said Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

Gualtieri said the task force’s efforts will continue.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office