Smash-and-grab vehicle burglaries hit Longboat Key

The number of vehicle burglaries on Longboat Key so far this year is equal to the year-to-date 2015 number — four — but two recent smash-and-grab burglaries have police reminding the public to be vigilant. 

“That’s unusual out here, and those two kind of stand out,” said Police Chief Pete Cumming. “Typically, about 85% of all of our burglaries are because of unlocked vehicles and homes.”

On June 23, a Tennessee man and his daughter returned to their 2006 Nissan Pathfinder at the Mayfield Street beach access after two hours and discovered the passenger-side window had been broken. 

Although less than $80 worth of items were stolen, the man estimated the damage to his car at more than $300, according to the police report.

Less than two weeks later, a man and woman from Hillsborough County returned from the beach at the North Shore Road access and found the passenger-side window of the man’s 2004 Chevy Avalanche smashed.

In that incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. July 2, the perpetrator allegedly stole a key to woman’s Nissan Juke, worth $100, a $150 iPod Touch and $15  cash.

With help from the island’s license plate recognition cameras and a witness to a similar crime in Bradenton Beach, the Longboat Key Police Department has identified a man it suspects is responsible for both burglaries. Because detectives didn’t have probable cause to arrest him at press time, police did not release his name.

“We’ve got pretty good information, but we need a little bit more,” Sgt. Bob Bourque said.

The witness noticed an out-of-state license on the suspect’s vehicle, which matched images from Longboat’s license cameras. 

“This person is wanted for similar activities out of Venice and Bradenton,” Bourque said.

There were a total of 10 vehicle burglaries on the Key for all of 2015, according to police evidence technician Kevin Mimbs.

Cumming reminds citizens to lock their cars to avoid being victimized. Also, it’s important to hide any valuable from sight, and if possible, lock them in the trunk of their vehicles.

“Don’t leave anything in plain view,” Cumming said. “Typically, these are crimes of opportunity.”

Earlier this year, Aaron Perkins, 33, was arrested on charges involving a string of package thefts on the island. 

Police say Perkins was also responsible for the previous two vehicle burglaries so far this year. He allegedly told officers he had broken into two unlocked vehicles parked at a condo on the 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive and took a $10 Tervis Tumbler and a $100 leather gym bag.