Rash of Daytime Auto Burglaries Reported in Land O’ Lakes

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is on the hunt for a person or people responsible for breaking into seven vehicles in the Land O’ Lakes area during the daytime hours Wednesday.

According to the sheriff’s office, the first reports it received were related to five vehicles parked at the Strive fitness center, 2622 Cypress Ridge Blvd.

“All the vehicles were locked and the windows had been smashed out,” an email from the agency said. In all five cases, purses were stolen from the vehicles.

Detectives say a suspicious Toyota Camry, brown or champagne in color, was seen in the parking lot before the burglaries were noticed. No video of the suspect vehicle, however, is available.

As the first five burglaries were being investigated, deputies received reports about similar occurrences at the Crossfit Aero gym at 4450 Pet Lane and the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway. In both of those cases, the vehicles had their windows broken out and items stolen.

Security footage from the last two crime scenes showed a vehicle similar to the one spotted at Strive, the agency said. Detectives believe the same person or people may be responsible for all seven break-ins.

The burglaries occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 21.

While the search for those responsible continues, the sheriff’s office is offering advice to motorists.

“We would also like to remind everyone the importance of keeping important and valuable items, like handbags and electronics, out of plain view to anyone who may look into the windows of a vehicle,” said Amy Marinec, sheriff’s office spokeswoman. “Do everything you can to not become a target of a criminal.”

Anyone with information about the auto burglaries is asked to call the sheriff’s office tip line at 727-847-8102.

Photos of the suspect vehicle courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office