A St. Petersburg police detective awoke Monday morning to find his unmarked police car missing from his driveway.
The car, a 2007 Chevrolet Impala, was found around 7:30 a.m. partly submerged in Lake Maggiore.
Police said homicide Det. Mathew Furse, 32, reported that someone broke into his personal car, which was parked next to the police car.
They said it appears the thief or thieves found a set of keys to the police car in the center console of the personal vehicle and used the keys to drive the police car from the area.
A .45 caliber Glock handgun, AR-15 Colt rifle, ammunition and a police radio were missing from the trunk of the Impala, police said.
According to police, a passerby discovered the Impala about 15 feet out from the east shore of Lake Maggiore, near 34th Avenue South and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department's non-emergency number at 727-893-7780 or text a tip to 727-420-8911. A confidential tip can be left at 727-892-5000.