Cops: Chase May Have Unlocked Auto Theft Ring

An early Thursday morning pursuit of four auto burglary suspects may have cracked an ongoing case wide open, Tampa Police are reporting.

Tampa detectives believe it’s possible the four teens arrested following that chase may be connected to a string of auto thefts and burglaries in the South Tampa area since the year began. All of the vehicles involved were unlocked and several had a key, valet key or proximity key left in side. Five of the vehicles swiped were recovered in St. Petersburg.

According to police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor, the break in the case came when officers received an auto burglary call from 2618 W. Sunset Drive. The victim gave police a description of a dark, four-door vehicle when the crime was called in.

The first officer on the scene confirmed the burglary and received updated information about the suspect vehicle and a possible second suspect vehicle it was following as it went down Sunset Drive. Another officer happened to spot both vehicles as they traveled east on Swann Avenue from Rome Avenue, McGregor said.

An attempt was made to stop the vehicles at Bayshore Boulevard and Channelside Drive, but both vehicles fled and police gave chase.

The pursuit continued onto eastbound Adamo Drive where one of the vehicles, a maroon Lexus, lost control going over the railroad tracks just west of 34th Street, McGregor said.

“The vehicle drove off the road and crashed into a bulldozer parked on the side of the road,” McGregor wrote in an email to media.

A 16-year-old St. Petersburg boy was the sole occupant of the Lexus. He was taken into custody and transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of a broken wrist and leg.

Meanwhile, other officers continued to chase the second vehicle, a Jeep Liberty. That vehicle crashed after police performed a PIT maneuver to stop it.

The driver of that vehicle, Roderick Webb, 18, of St. Petersburg was taken to Tampa General Hospital for evaluation.

The crashes closed portions of Adamo Drive for some time Thursday morning.

The passengers in the Liberty, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy, both from St. Petersburg were also charged. Patch is not identifying the minors in this case.

As it turned out, McGregor said, the Lexus had been stolen from West Palmira Avenue overnight and the Jeep Liberty had been reported stolen in St. Petersburg.

Charges against the four include auto burglary, aggravated fleeing to elude and grand theft auto.

More charges are pending the completion of the investigation.

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