Detectives Seek South County Thieves Stealing Appliances

RIVERVIEW, FL – Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives are asking for help to solve a series thefts in subdivisions under construction in Southeast Hillsborough County.

The thieves are entering the newly constructed and stealing new appliances.

During the month of May, 62 new appliances were taken, along with lumber, copper and other materials.

Detectives in District IV have seen a significant increase in construction thefts in nearly all new subdivisions from the FishHawk/Riverview area down the Big Bend corridor to Apollo Beach and Ruskin.

In April, there were 21 reported incidents, which then spiked to 48 in May.

So far this year within the District IV boundaries alone,132 construction-related thefts were reported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The documented loss is more than $119,000.

Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the construction thieves. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application.

Image via Realtor.com