2 Teens Arrested in Theft of $20,000

Two teens have been arrested and charged with taking $20,000 from one of the boys' mothers. Police say the two are associated with a theft involving two other teens in which the four took navigation systems from cars.

According to Sgt. Robert Burkhart of the , the investigation began when a Gulfport mother came into the department June 22 with four navigation systems, six pairs of sunglasses, a watch and a GPS stand that she found in her teenage son's room. 

Officials used serial numbers on the items to see if they were connected to a string of burglaries in Gulfport between June 20 and 26. Seven of those burglaries were reported June 23, according to the Gulfport Police call log.

After tracing the numbers, investigators determined the stolen property was not taken from vehicles parked in Gulfport. "They were traced to burglaries in St. Pete Beach, the Upham Beach area ... and St. Petersburg near Causeway Isle," Burkhart said.

During the investigation, the mother returned to the station June 30 to report that $20,000 in cash had been taken from her home. Her son and three teenage boys were questioned about the missing money. Police say the four admitted to stealing the navigation systems and other items but denied taking any money. Through the investigation, $16,173.00 was recovered.

Two of the teens have been arrested and charged in connection with the stolen money. The charges are not listed, as the report has not been made public yet.

Anyone with information regarding other burglaries is encouraged to call the Gulfport Police Department's non-emergency line at 727-893-1030.