Looters, Unlicensed Contractors Arrested After Hurricanes: FL Sheriff

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Dozens of looters and unlicensed contractors targeting the barrier islands have been arrested on various charges in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.

During looting patrols that took place Oct. 2-23, deputies arrested 45 suspects on 68 different charges, including armed robbery, burglary, loitering and prowling, grand theft, vandalism, and trespassing.

Deputies found another 196 people who were on the islands, but probable cause wasn’t established to arrest them “and they were told to move along,” the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives from the agency’s Economics Crimes Unit also recently completed a three-day operation, “Flood of Fraud,” which ran Tuesday through Thursday on Madeira Beach. During this operation, 64 suspects were arrested on 102 charges.

“As the Pinellas beaches recover, we are going to continue these patrols and arrest everyone we can who is stealing from the vulnerable victims of two back-to-back storms that have devastated our community,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. “Our effort to protect the community has not stopped with these hurricanes’ direct impact. We are now focused on protecting our residents and our businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get on with their lives.”