TAMPA, Fla. — Deputies arrested a man accused of using a device to conceal the license plate of a stolen car on Monday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Marcum Sapp, 27, stole a black Dodge Charger from a Pasco County dealership, a press release says. He was pulled over in the car at the intersection of East Busch Boulevard and North Larkhall Place in Tampa for "multiple traffic infractions."
Investigators would later discover that the car's VIN number was altered and that the car was stolen back on June 25. They also discovered a "hidden switch that operated a black cover over the license plate to conceal it."
He's now been charged with one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a vehicle with an altered VIN.
"This individual thought he was going to get away with this crime by hiding the tag of the car he stole. But let me tell you, our detectives are top-notch. They're not just good; they're exceptional at what they do," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "This is a clear message to criminals: you can't outsmart us. Our commitment to keeping our community safe is firm, and those who think they can commit a crime, steal from hardworking people and businesses, will face the consequences."
There were 31.2 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people in 2022, the latest year that data available, according to the Florida Department of Health's Division of Public Statistics and Performance Management. That's lower than the rate of 46.4 per 100,000 people motor vehicle thefts for the entire state.
In total, there were 10,362 motor vehicle thefts in Florida last year.
The sheriff's office did not say what dealership the car was stolen from. The investigation remains ongoing.
