Clearwater Police Arrest 7 In String Of Auto Burglaries

CLEARWATER, FL -- Clearwater Police made seven arrests and recovered two stolen guns over three days while investigating a string of auto burglaries.

Six of the arrests -- an adult and five juveniles --were made Sunday, July 8 at two locations. A seventh person was arrested Friday, July 6.

Charges against the seven include grand theft auto, grand theft of a firearm, armed burglary, carrying a concealed firearm, delinquent in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest without violence.

Three of the accused burglars were apprehended at about 4 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Park Place Apartments.

An officer conducting a directed patrol saw an occupied 2011 Hyundai Genesis that had been stolen out of Tarpon Springs. Other officers arrived and secured the perimeter shortly thereafter. Two people were arrested at the car and the driver, who ran from the scene, was captured by a police K9. Two stolen guns were found inside the car.

The second set of arrests occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on Clearwater Beach at Mandalay Avenue and Bay Esplanade.

Police received a report that suspicious individuals were checking the door handles of cars in the 800 block of Eldorado Avenue.

Responding officers stopped arrived and pulled over the car they were using. Police discovered stolen jewelry, wallets and a purse inside.

Five of the seven arrested have multiple prior felony arrests. The juveniles range in age from 15 to 17.

"Our patrol officers did a fantastic job of responding quickly to these scenes and catching these suspects, and our detectives have worked tirelessly to solve many of these cases,'' said Police Chief Dan Slaughter. "That's two fewer stolen guns that are on the streets, thanks to the actions of our personnel."

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 283 burglaries of unlocked vehicles in Clearwater with 26 guns stolen from inside cars.

"We cannot stress enough how important it is for residents to do their part to prevent crime simply by locking their car doors," Slaughter said. "There is no excuse - ever - for leaving a gun inside an unlocked vehicle."

Image via Clearwater Police

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