Three car burglars arrested

Longboat Key Police Officer Shawn Nagell arrested three teenagers Sunday, Nov. 8, who admitted to stealing a car on Longboat Key. The suspects could be linked to the 21 auto burglaries that occurred on the Key last month.

At 2:24 a.m. Sunday, Police Chief Al Hogle said Nagell observed a 2009 silver Lincoln going from one condominium to another at a high rate of speed in the 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Nagell entered the condominium and observed two occupied vehicles (the 2009 Lincoln and a 2005 silver Nissan Altima). Both vehicles were stopped for traffic violations in the 6600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

When questioned, the two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old admitted to stealing the two automobiles that night.

The 2009 Lincoln was stolen from the 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive, while the 2005 Nissan was stolen from the 700 block of Springs Lakes Boulevard in Bradenton. One of the subjects had gloves in his possession.

The three suspects admitted to stealing the two cars early Sunday, committing a burglary to an occupied dwelling in Manatee County and six auto burglaries on Longboat Key Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Manatee Sheriff's Office responded to Longboat Key to assist in the investigation.

The three subjects were arrested and charged with one count of burglary to an occupied dwelling, two counts of grand theft auto and six counts of burglary to an auto.

Hogle said all three juveniles have varied lengthy criminal histories in Bradenton and Sarasota for grand theft auto and auto burglaries. Their names are not being released due to their age.

“Evidence recovered at the scene may link theses subjects to other crimes on Longboat Key, in addition to the above crimes,” said Hogle, who hopes the juveniles can be linked to the 21 auto burglaries that occurred on Friday, Oct. 30. “We will be trying to see if there is a link to that investigation as well.”

Hogle said the case will be reviewed with adjoining city and county law enforcement agencies to compare fingerprints that could link the subjects to other crimes.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].