Marine
01-08-2003, 3:43am
BRANDON - Of all the cars in all the parking lots in Hillsborough County, they really picked the wrong one.
A squad of deputies wearing street clothes and standing in the shadows watched two young women Sunday evening as they tried to find unlocked vehicles parked at Brandon's Regency Square shopping center.
Their fourth attempt - and last - was an unmarked sheriff's cruiser with tinted windows. They didn't notice an undercover deputy sitting inside.
It was just the beginning of an active night for the Selective Enforcement Squad, which has been out making the rounds of parking lots to combat the persistent problem of auto burglaries, sheriff's Lt. Rod Reder said.
``They take stereo systems, cash, purses, CDs, other electronic toys that are left around,'' he said.
Regency Square, on State Road 60 just east of Interstate 75, proved to be fertile ground Sunday night.
Shortly after 8 p.m., squad members arrested Holly Moore, 20, and Jennie Simpson, 18, both of Valrico, who tried the doors of the unmarked police car. Each was charged with four counts of attempted burglary of a vehicle.
Two hours later, the squad was back on the stakeout and members arrested three more suspects.
Charged with possession of burglary tools, loitering and prowling were Jose Portilla, 21, Ricardo Gallo, 18, and Andro Hernandez, 15, all of the Clair- Mel City area, Reder said.
http://www.tampatribune.com/FloridaMetro/MGAGXUVCNAD.html
A squad of deputies wearing street clothes and standing in the shadows watched two young women Sunday evening as they tried to find unlocked vehicles parked at Brandon's Regency Square shopping center.
Their fourth attempt - and last - was an unmarked sheriff's cruiser with tinted windows. They didn't notice an undercover deputy sitting inside.
It was just the beginning of an active night for the Selective Enforcement Squad, which has been out making the rounds of parking lots to combat the persistent problem of auto burglaries, sheriff's Lt. Rod Reder said.
``They take stereo systems, cash, purses, CDs, other electronic toys that are left around,'' he said.
Regency Square, on State Road 60 just east of Interstate 75, proved to be fertile ground Sunday night.
Shortly after 8 p.m., squad members arrested Holly Moore, 20, and Jennie Simpson, 18, both of Valrico, who tried the doors of the unmarked police car. Each was charged with four counts of attempted burglary of a vehicle.
Two hours later, the squad was back on the stakeout and members arrested three more suspects.
Charged with possession of burglary tools, loitering and prowling were Jose Portilla, 21, Ricardo Gallo, 18, and Andro Hernandez, 15, all of the Clair- Mel City area, Reder said.
http://www.tampatribune.com/FloridaMetro/MGAGXUVCNAD.html