3 Teens Rent U-Haul In Brandon To Steal Guns In Lakeland: Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL — Three teenagers rented a U-Haul from Brandon and drove it to Lakeland on Thursday, where they are accused of stealing guns from vehicles, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Seventeen-year-old Aaliyah Fontanez of Lutz; Chelsea May McGhee of Tampa, 18; and Matthew Prado, 16, of Polk City face charges that include armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm, conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary, and possession of burglary tools with intent to use, PCSO deputies said.

Deputies arrested the teens at Dollar General, 1085 W. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland, Thursday morning.

McGhee is in the Polk County Jail being held without bond. Fontanez and Prado were taken to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center, deputies said.

McGee rented a U-Haul in Brandon after she couldn't rent a car because of her age, deputies said.

She picked up Fontanez and Prado, and then they went to Lakeland in the area of Dosseywood Court, deputies said.

A resident saw the U-Haul truck driving in the Dosseywood neighborhood at 2:50 a.m. He told deputies that three teens wore dark hoodies and were getting out of the U-Haul, deputies said.

The witness told deputies that when he started to walk toward the U-Haul, they got back in it and drove away, deputies said.

According to deputies, detectives then saw them sitting inside the U-Haul at a Dollar General.

A detective noticed a handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun on the passenger side floor, deputies said.

McGhee and Padro told detectives they had gone inside two vehicles in the Dosseywood Court and took two guns, deputies said.

"Thanks to the citizen who saw something and then said something, two stolen firearms were recovered from the hands of criminals," Sheriff Polk Grady Judd said. "These teens have lengthy criminal histories, yet they are still committing crimes even while serving probation. The Juvenile Justice System must hold juveniles accountable to protect law-abiding citizens. And I have another message to the community: please, don’t leave firearms or other valuables in your vehicles, and be sure to lock them up. There’s a reason we say, 'Lock it or lose it.'"

Patch does use minors' names when they have been charged with felonies.