The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man for stealing over $20,000 worth of gold bars.
On March 6, 2025, on the 14900 block of Aire Place in Tampa, a suspect approached a UPS driver, claiming a package was his. After checking the identification, the driver handed over the package. The ID was fraudulent, and the owner reported the theft.
Through investigative means, detectives learned that Vitalijs Apetenoks, 33, is the suspect in the doorbell camera video. A warrant was issued for his arrest on March 13, 2025. Apetenoks was arrested in New Jersey on March 17, 2025, when he tried to leave the country from Newark Airport.
Apetenoks has been charged with:
- Fraudulent Use of Personal Information
- Organized Fraud $20,000 to $50,000
- Grand Theft Second Degree
"Stealing from our community will not be tolerated, and fleeing our state won't stop us from catching you," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We'll continue to pursue these criminals and make sure anyone involved in these thefts faces the full consequences."
This is an active investigation. Any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.