More charges pending against alleged package thieves

The Longboat Key Police Department has already written up two additional misdemeanors each against Aaron Perkins and Rikiya Parks, the newspaper courier and accomplice arrested for island package thefts this month. 

And even more charges are pending, according to Sgt. Bob Bourque.

“They obviously stole a lot more packages than we were aware of, because we’re still getting phone calls,” said Bourque, who spearheaded the investigation.

Ballet flats, bedding, lemonade and yarn were among the more than $1,500 worth of missing goods reported at Tangerine Bay Club, according to police reports. But Bay Harbour, Bayport Beach and Tennis Club and the Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club were also targeted by the alleged thieves.

The couple may be facing additional felony charges along with the two new petit theft charges the department is currently pursuing.

On May 11, Officer Wendy McGinnis staked out Bay Harbour, where a vehicle burglary occurred, and observed an SUV driver slinging papers who appeared near a package she was watching. When the driver moved on to a new neighborhood, she noticed the package was missing.

McGinnis and Officer Jeff Morningstar stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by Perkins, 33, and Parks, 27, who were both on probation, and found the package. The former suspect also admitted to stealing a $100 leather gym bag and $10 Tervis tumbler out of a car earlier this month — though he threw out the cup because it was cracked.

“I was determined to solve this one,” McGinnis said.