Do These Belong To You? Sheriff Displays Items From 30 Burglaries

CARROLLWOOD, FL -- The inside of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's District III office on Gunn Highway resembled an indoor flea market.

Assorted jewelry and collectible coins were carefully arranged on two tables. Another table held thousands of baseball cards, comic books and toy figures. Electronic equipment, including Sony Playstations, cell phones, camcorders and stereo equipment, was piled in another area.

These items, however, weren't for sale. In fact, they're free -- as long as you can prove you're the legal owner.

The items on display at the District III office Friday were among the more than $530,000 worth of merchandise stolen in more than 30 home burglaries in Westchase, Citrus Park and Carrollwood between 2015 and September.

Following a 14-month-long investigation, sheriff's detectives finally made a breakthrough in the case that has confounded them for three years.

Using DNA evidence found at the scene of three of the burglaries, they were able to tie the crimes to 45-year-old Gilberto Vasquez.

Unfortunately, Vasquez fled the state before detectives could execute the warrants for his arrest.

Knowing he had relatives living in Springfield, Massachusetts, detectives contacted Springfield police on Nov. 6 and, within an hour, Vasquez was located and taken into custody. He remains in a Massachusetts jail until his extradition to Hillsborough County can be arranged.

In the meantime, detectives searched the Tampa Bay homes where Vasquez lived and recovered box upon box of stolen goods.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Chief Donna Lusczynski said detectives believe this is only a portion of the items Vasquez stole. They think he shipped items to out-of-state relatives to be fenced and melted some of the jewelry down to sell to gold and silver dealers.

In all of the more than 30 cases, the burglar targeted the same type of house and was able to access the homes through a side door or sliding-glass door when the owners were not home or were asleep. While detectives only found Vasquez' DNA, they believe he may have had accomplices.

In one case, said Lusczynski, the 63-year-old homeowner woke up to find the burglar in her bedroom. Detectives feared it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.

Now detectives have the overwhelming task of trying to match the stolen items to their owners. On Friday, they invited victims to drop by the District III office and have a look at the merchandise. They've also posted photos on the sheriff's Facebook page.

Lusczynski said it was rewarding to see eyes light up as victims entered the room and recognized a family heirloom they thought was lost forever.

"Some of these have a lot of sentimental value," she said. "We want to get this property back to those people who were victimized."

Anyone who recognizes any of the stolen items can contact Detective Matt Gaither at 813-247-0330.

Images via Hillsborough Sheriff

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