Teamwork Led to Serial Auto Burglar's Arrest, Cops Say

A 20-year-old Tampa man is in hot water after police and employees at an Ybor City parking garage worked together to end his alleged auto burglary spree.

According to the Tampa Police Department, at least five unlocked vehicles parked inside the garage at 1500 E. 5th Ave. were targeted by a burglar. The thefts occurred over the period of several weeks with vehicles parked in the garage in the late evening hours generally targeted.

As the theft reports continued to come in, police and garage workers decided to team up to nab the suspect. The last reported burglary in the spree took place in the evening hours of Oct. 13. At that time, police said a garage employee and another person who works in the area were able to help officers identify a suspect.

That suspect, Calvin Jackson, was brought into custody on Monday while he happened to be meeting with his probation officer, an email from the agency stated. Jackson now faces 13 counts of auto burglary and violation of probation on a previous burglary charge.

The spree serves as a reminder for folks to keep their car doors locked, the agency stated in an email to media. “This simple safety measure can dramatically reduce the chances of becoming the victim of an auto burglary,” the email noted.

Jackson was being held without bond in the Hillsborough County Jail Tuesday following his Monday arrest. He also faces a number of criminal charges related to credit card theft and fraudulent use of credit cards, jail records indicate.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Jail