Auto Burglars Strike Wesley Chapel Neighborhood

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of auto burglaries that occurred in a Wesley Chapel neighborhood Tuesday night.

According to the agency, deputies on the night shift were called out to The Williamsburg Condos Sept. 27 about an auto burglary in progress. A perimeter was set up and K9s were brought in. The two suspects in the case, however, managed to avoid capture.

When deputies began assessing the neighborhood, they found 10 vehicles had been broken into, an email from the agency said. The auto burglaries occurred on:

• Tanglewood Drive – one vehicle
• Tanner Drive – three vehicles
• Twisting Lane – two vehicles
• Twinbrook Lane – one vehicle
• Tampa Bay Drive – three vehicles

Deputies say items such as loose change was taken from the vehicles. No firearms, purses or wallets were reported stolen.

No further information is available about the cases. No usable video of the suspects was found, the agency noted.

Auto burglaries have been an ongoing concern in Central Pasco County. In addition to recent break-ins in the Wesley Chapel area, deputies have also been investigating day and nighttime burglaries in Land O’ Lakes.

The daytime burglaries reported in Land O’ Lakes last week involved suspects that smashed out windows to snatch valuables. The thefts, believed to be connected, occurred at two local gyms and also at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway.

In addition to making sure vehicle doors are locked to thwart burglars, Amy Marinec, sheriff’s office spokeswoman, reminded residents to keep valuables out of view even if doors are locked.

“Do everything you can to not become a target of a criminal,” she said.

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