[PHOTO CREDIT: Christine Cruz]
[Original Publish Date: 12/31/19]
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TAVARES, Florida — Police from at least three Lake County agencies are investigating a series of smashed windows and vehicle break-ins that occurred from Leesburg to Mount Dora in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Thieves hit several hotel parking lots along the U.S. Highway 441 corridor, Tavares Police Sergeant Sarah Coursey told Lake Legal News. Police believe between 50 and 80 vehicle windows were smashed; law enforcement is still in the early stages of the investigation.
In Tavares, shortly before 3:30 a.m., thieves targeted Comfort Inn & Suites, 1380 East Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares. The hotel is located across the street from AdventHealth Waterman. Initially, hotel staff believed five cars were broken into, but Tavares Police found 13 more upon arrival, Coursey said.
“We had approximately 18 vehicles [targeted], all the windows were smashed,” Coursey said. The hotel does not have exterior video surveillance. The thieves did not get away with much, Coursey said, mostly change and small items. One cell phone was stolen and it was tracked to Hampton Inn Mount Dora, 19700 U.S. Highway 441, where more break-ins occurred, Coursey told LLN.
“[The thieves] appear to have used a window punch, or similar tool, which would have kept the noise to a minimum,” Coursey said.
Mount Dora Deputy Chief of Police Michael Fewless told LLN that 10 vehicles were reported burglarized — all limited to one hotel. Police are actively investigating the incident, and are working with other agencies. “We’re trying to pull video from the area.”
“Several hotels in, and outside Leesburg were subject to multiple car burglaries with smashed windows,” said Leesburg Police Capt. Joe Iozzi in an email to LLN. Incident reports were not available at press time.
Coursey said, in the past, incidents similar to this were connected to gang activity, likely initiations into gangs in the Orlando area. “Groups of people are sent out to commit crimes and they are not from [Lake County.] We are seeing more crime coming from Orlando,” Coursey said.
Iozzi also agreed that the suspects are likely not from Lake County. “Generally, when similar incidents like this have occurred in the past, we’ve discovered the suspects are usually from the Orlando/Orange County area and hit multiple locations up and down the highway corridors throughout Lake County.”
There were dozens of break-ins in the Maitland area in Orange County Sunday night and Coursey said they are working with other agencies to see if they are connected. Leesburg Police is also working with other agencies, Iozzi said. “Our detectives are also in contact with the other agencies to compare and contrast the evidence from each of the cases,” he said in an email.
If you have information on any of the incidents, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477.)
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
