CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Clearwater Police made seven arrests and recovered two stolen guns over three days related to a series of recent unlocked vehicle burglaries.
- Clearwater Police arrested seven people in connection to the burglaries
- Arrests consist of mostly juveniles
- Police urge people to lock their car doors and to remove any valuables inside
Six of the arrests occurred Sunday morning at two different locations and involved five juvenile suspects and one adult suspect. A seventh arrest occurred Friday in connection to a recent rash of unlocked vehicle burglaries, including some where guns were stolen.
Charges against the seven include grand theft auto, grand theft of a firearm, armed burglary, carrying a concealed firearm, delinquent in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest without violence.
Three suspects were apprehended at about 4 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Park Place Apartments. An officer saw an occupied 2011 Hyundai Genesis that had been stolen out of Tarpon Springs.
Other officers arrived on scene and secured the perimeter shortly thereafter. Two suspects were arrested at the vehicle, and the driver who ran from the scene was captured by a K-9 on scene.
Two stolen guns were found inside the car, police said.
The second set of arrests occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on Clearwater Beach at Mandalay Avenue and Bay Esplanade. Suspects had been seen checking door handles in the 800 block of Eldorado Avenue.
Responding officers stopped the vehicle nearby and the suspects were taken into custody. Jewelry, wallets and a purse were recovered from inside the vehicle.
Five of the seven suspects have multiple prior felony arrests. The juveniles range in age from 15 to 17.
"Our patrol officers did a fantastic job of responding quickly to these scenes and catching these suspects, and our detectives have worked tirelessly to solve many of these cases," said Police Chief Dan Slaughter. "That's two fewer stolen guns that are on the streets, thanks to the actions of our personnel."
Clearwater Police remind residents to always lock their car doors and to never leave a gun inside an unsecured vehicle.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been 283 unlocked vehicle burglaries in the city. A total of 26 guns have been stolen from inside cars.
"We cannot stress enough how important it is for residents to do their part to prevent crime simply by locking their car doors," Slaughter said. "There is no excuse - ever - for leaving a gun inside an unlocked vehicle."