Tampa bay area law enforcement officials arrested several suspects accused of property crimes and theft over the weekend. The Highlands County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from the Sears at the Lakeland Mall. A witness reported seeing a burglary happening: two suspects, a man and a woman driving an orange or rust-colored Mitsubishi Eclipse, were taking items from an unsecured car in the parking lot. The deputy located the pair, Dawn Nicole Campbell, 35 and Javis Brian Fuller, 24, along with another suspect, Michael Scott Hudy, 25, and placed them under arrest for burglary of the vehicle involved and petty theft. Authorities recovered a wallet and a pair of shoes, items allegedly stolen from the vehicle, as well as an opiate drug in the possession of Hudy.
In another burglary case over the weekend, Martin James Ibanez, 22, was arrested for the burglary of an occupied dwelling. He was not armed at the time of the offense, but forced entry into the home when a woman answered her front door. The victim left the home while Ibanez searched for items, but returned with her cousin. They found Ibanez hiding inside a closet in the home. He was arrested when a Sheriff's deputy responded to the scene. It was not clear if the victim was acquainted previously with Ibanez.
In light of the recent burglaries, police are warning the community about car fishing, a practice in which burglars prowl down a street under the cover of darkness, looking for unlocked cars and stealing belongings from the cars. Local citizens should not leave valuable items, including GPS navigation systems, in plain sight when the car is unoccupied and owners should take care to lock their vehicles before leaving the area.
If you have been arrested, call the Tampa criminal attorneys at Musca Law to discuss your case.
