School Resource Officer Identifies Teens Accused in Palm Harbor Burglaries

A Pinellas County School Resource Officer helped catch a pair of teens who are suspected of burglarizing five vehicles in Palm Harbor. 

School Resource Officers (SROs) are Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies who work at schools during the school year and then patrol in the community when school is not in session.

Detectives were investigating four car burglaries that were reported on June 26 in the Beacon Groves subdivision off Alderman Road. The cars were unlocked and were parked in the street or in driveways on Bancroft Place and Bancroft Circle. 

Detectives thought a local school resource officer might be able to help identify the young suspects spotted in surveillance video from the neighborhood. It turns out, their hunch was correct.

"There was surveillance video that he knew who the students were," said Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Specialist Cristen Rensel.

"They were able to locate the juveniles and recover the items that were taken."

The teens, whose identities were not released because they are minors, were arrested in connection with the four burglaries and one additional theft nearby on Grove Park Road.

Rensel said there are things that citizens can do to protect themselves from becoming theft victims.

"The easiest solution is to lock your car," she said. Rensel also recommends that you don't leave items in plain sight in your car and be sure to take anything of value with you.

Detectives say they're also investigating five additional vehicle burglaries that were reported on June 26 and 27 in neighborhoods nearby.

If you saw anything unusual on Primrose Way, Fox Hunt Drive, Fox Chase Boulevard or Clover Hill Road on these dates, call Pinellas County Sheriff's Detective Adam Sarlo in the Burglary/Pawn Unit (727) 582-6200.

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