The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested six people for trespassing and stealing construction materials and appliances from a residential development.
Between July 1, 2020 and September 23, 2020, deputies responded 12 times to the Lennar Homes Touchstone Community, located at South 78th Street and Camden Field Parkway in Tampa. Among the stolen materials and items were brand new appliances, lighting fixtures, doors, cinder blocks, wood, grass, and sod. Detectives estimated upwards of $5,000 in stolen property.
In response to these recurrent incidents, HCSO's District 5 deputies conducted covert surveillance of the residential development to identify possible suspects. Over a nearly 9-week period, a total of six suspects were arrested. While some worked together, most acted alone, and nearly all were caught in the act, allowing detectives to recover some of the stolen property.
"Construction sites are prime targets for criminals looking to snatch tools, materials, and in some cases, shiny, new appliances, without having to pay a dime," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Ultimately, they end up paying a high price by landing themselves in jail with felony charges. We do not tolerate this behavior that puts a strain on, not only the developer and contractors, but also the new homeowners who are eager to move in, but may have to wait longer due to unexpected delays caused by these thefts."
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200.