Cops: Dunedin Man Faked 3 Truck Burglaries

A 26-year-old Dunedin man is in hot water after Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say he faked three auto burglaries in hopes of getting some fast cash.

According to the sheriff’s office, Joseph Harris was charged Wednesday with two counts of filing a false report and two counts of defrauding an insurance company.

The burglaries detectives say Harris faked were said to have occurred at Harris’ 2397 Demaret Drive home in Dunedin on Feb. 28, June 12 and Sept. 30.

All three times, Harris is accused of telling deputies parts were stolen from his truck, an email to media from the agency stated.

Realizing something wasn’t quite right, detectives launched an investigation and determined the claims were false, the email stated.

During a Jan. 14 interview, Harris, the email said, admitted to removing parts from his truck and burying them in his backyard before making the police reports.

“The suspect stated he did this because he was in need of money,” the email said. “Harris had
collected over $10,000 from his insurance company.”

Harris was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday and was later released on bond.

Photo credit: Joseph Harris/Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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