Over the course of a month, three suspects targeted at least eight locations in Hillsborough County during a burglary operation, stealing items and later selling them to unsuspecting customers.
Sheriff Chad Chronister detailed the operation on Thursday, August 6, at the Falkenburg Road Jail.
Between June 16-July 20, Joshua Vining, 36, and Jason Slater, 46, targeted multiple local businesses, primarily in the Brandon area, and one residence, stealing more than $13,000 worth of items. Each time, the suspects would pry open the door of the business or enter through a window. In one instance, the suspects stole items right off of the front porch of a home.
On June 23, Vining, who was out on bond for previous burglaries, broke into a storage unit parked at the Brandon First Church of the Nazarene, taking a number of power tools. Days later, he broke into the Chopsticks Restaurant on E Brandon Blvd, making off with cash and an iPad. Throughout the month of July, Vining's crime spree continued with burglaries at the Oakfield Lanes Bowling Alley, Miller Construction, the Atomik Carbon Bike Shop in Brandon, and Brandon Lighting. Items stolen ranged from Apple computers, laptops, headphones, camping gear, fans, and money.
During the burglaries, Slater either assisted in removing stolen property or later sold the stolen property to a local pawnshop. The duo also worked with Brad Krantz, 34, to sell the goods. Krantz was out on bond for aggravated battery.
Krantz would purchase some of the stolen merchandise from Vining and Slater, later reselling the items for a greater profit online or right out of his home on the 5000 block of Barron Oaks Place in Plant City.
Due to diligent detective work, deputies were able to trace some of the sold items back to the suspects. All three suspects were located and arrested between July 22-23.
"The sad part is, these items are just a fraction of what was actually stolen by two individuals and brokered for a profit by a third person over the course of a month," said Sheriff Chad Chronister as he stood surrounded by the stolen property on Thursday. "These targeted businesses were already struggling to remain open due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's these types of losses that can be the final straw in closing a business. These burglaries don't just affect the businesses, they affect us as consumers. The losses are passed onto all of us."
A court-authorized search warrant was conducted at Krantz's home during his arrest. Stolen items from five of the business burglaries were recovered.
"They will face justice for their crimes and will no longer victimize business owners and the residents of our community," said Sheriff Chronister.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is hoping to identify more possible burglary victims and return some of the unidentified stolen property to its rightful owner.
Sheriff Chronister is asking anyone in the Brandon area, both business owners and residents, who may have been the victim of a recent burglary to contact HCSO at 813-247-8200.
