MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — More than 100 people have been arrested in Pinellas County, accused of looting or scamming people on the barrier islands after back-to-back hurricanes.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the arrests.
In total, 45 people were arrested for charges including armed robbery, burglary and grand theft. Of them, Gualtieri said 41 are not U.S. citizens and came from Central or South American countries.
Two people arrested for those charges were from Pinellas County.
In addition, 64 people were arrested and accused of acting as fraudulent contractors. It was part of a three-day undercover operation in which they also found scammers offered to do $250,000 of work.
"We are now focused on protecting our residents and our businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get on with their lives," Gualtieri said.
Bill Karns, the owner of Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar, said he noticed people trying to loot businesses including his shortly after the hurricane. Fortunately, they were caught, he said.
"Tough times for everybody, but we can't have people coming in and taking advantage of our residents," Karns said.
For now, Karns said he and the community are focused on helping those in need recover.
On Thursday evening, a donation center opened up at Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar to further relief efforts.
It was in partnership with Karns' ROC Park Inc. nonprofit foundation and with the Raising Relief Foundation. Donations collected included clothing and food to help survivors get back on their feet.
Frequent visitors of the bar said the community coming together in this aspect is a testament to the character of Madeira Beach.
"This is here to stay. We have devastation and we have people that are displaced," Raising Relief Foundation founder Devin Pappas said.
Pappas said aside from items, funds are needed to support survivors since the needs are ever-changing.
"Every single dollar goes back into the community," Pappas said.
Despite the setbacks Madeira Beach and other beach communities have faced, neighbors said they'll weather both storms together.
"We're here and we're not going anywhere. This is Madeira Beach strong," Karns said.
You can find more information on the Raising Relief Foundation website or by calling 727-657-9615.