Pinellas County, Florida -- A regional effort tackling a substantial increase in the number of auto thefts in Pinellas County and the City of Tampa resulted in a total of 64 arrests for various crimes.
Of the 64 arrested, 28 of those were juveniles -- one of whom was arrested twice by the task force.
In all, a total of 171 charges were doled out including 37 for grand theft auto, 19 for fleeing and eluding, 19 for resisting arrest without violence, 12 for conveyance burglaries, 11 for driving while license suspended or revoked, and multiple others.
Forty-six stolen vehicles were recovered as a result.
Over the first six months of this year, all three jurisdictions reported seeing an increase in motor vehicle thefts.
When January to June 2014 numbers were compared to January to June 2015 figures, the St. Petersburg Police Department reported a 23% increase; the Tampa Police Department a 47.4% increase and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office a 31% increase.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, who opened up the news conference by providing some background as to the need for the creation of the task force, said:
"We recognize that although our jurisdictions are defined by geographical boundaries, crime is not. In order to address this type of crime pattern and fight the rising number of auto thefts more effectively, we recognize that there is a need for an ongoing, collective enforcement effort."
Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward also commented on the benefits of a regional approach.
"The fact that our law enforcement agencies are effectively and aggressively working together is good news for the citizens of Tampa Bay, and bad news for criminals. We recognized that we had a problem that spanned the Tampa Bay area, so we created a solution that did the same. When you combine a good plan, a collaborative approach, and solid police work - that's a powerful combination."
The Task Force additionally reported that a majority of the stolen vehicles were left unlocked.
"This, in and of itself, should send a powerful message to residents on both sides of the Bay that they hold the key to protecting their vehicles by simply locking their car doors," said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. "I am certainly pleased with the partnership and success of the Task Force, but I assure you that our combined efforts do not end here and that we continue to seek out and arrest the individuals who engage in this type of criminal activity."
