Tourists driving Chevy Impalas may want to steer clear of Siesta Key beach accesses, as Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies go undercover to thwart the criminals targeting the models.

Yesterday, Sgt. Scott Osborne told Siesta Key Association members the car is a popular rental vehicle, which tourists usually drive. Visitors tend to carry more cash, making the cars a lucrative target for vehicle burglaries.

The burglaries could be connected, Osborne explained. In about 10 crimes in July, the suspects used a metal object to crank doors and pop locks to gain access to vehicles. “It appears we have a group working this area,” he said. “They get the cash, they get the credit cards, and then they’re going straight to the malls and running up credit card bills.”

• SHARE
• Email This Page
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google Bookmarks