Jennifer De Leon’s husband walked outside early Tuesday morning to find shattered glass scattered across the parking lot of their Altamonte Springs apartment complex.
The front passenger window of his white Nissan Maxima had been smashed and the contents of his center console were spread across the seats, De Leon said. Some change and a few batteries had disappeared.
The couple’s car was one of at least 70 vehicles broken into early Tuesday morning across Altamonte Springs. The rash of burglaries came just days after thieves busted into about 50 vehicles in a parking lot on Florida Hospital’s campus off Dade Avenue in Orlando.
On Wednesday, Orlando police said detectives had arrested two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy on charges related to the break-ins at the hospital. The Orlando Sentinel is not naming the suspects because they are minors.
Detectives said they also tied the trio to an earlier rash of car burglaries on Orlando Regional Medical Center’s campus.
Altamonte Springs police spokeswoman Evelyn Estevez said investigators aren’t sure if the burglaries were connected, but are talking with Orlando detectives.
An Orlando officer spotted the teens Tuesday afternoon in a stole Honda Accord near Tropical Tire and Auto on Orange Blossom Trail, a spokeswoman said. They ran when the officer tried to talk to them, but were quickly caught.
Police said detectives found several items taken were taken during the burglaries inside the stolen Honda. The boys allegedly said they bought the vehicle for $100 last week, according to police.
A witness called police about 4:30 a.m. saying he saw two young men breaking into vehicles in one of the Altamonte Springs neighborhoods that was targeted Tuesday.
Officers spotted the pair leaving the Lotus Landing Apartments in a stolen black Kia, but they quickly ditched the vehicle and ran away.
Estevez said it’s important for residents to lock their doors and never leave valuables in their vehicles. A thief won’t hesitate to bust a window if there’s something in plain sight, she said.
“If they see a backpack in the backseat, a GPS on the dashboard, a cell phone – even if it’s an old cell phone — they’re going to break in and take those items,” she said.
De Leon said she’s thankful her husband didn’t have anything of value in his car, but the busted window did set them back about $200.
She said this was the second time in four years of living at the Raven Crossings Apartments that one of their vehicles has been broken into. She said she’s hoping this will be a warning for the complex to increase security.
“We have two little kids, a 2-year-old and a newborn,” she said. “Thankfully, it was a vehicle. Next time, it could be our home.”
sallen@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417
Markeith Loyd’s niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, is no long facing charges of aiding the accused copy killer. Prosecutors have also agreed to lower the bonds for two others arrested during the manhunt.
Markeith Loyd’s niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, is no long facing charges of aiding the accused copy killer. Prosecutors have also agreed to lower the bonds for two others arrested during the manhunt.
Markeith Loyd’s niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, is no long facing charges of aiding the accused copy killer. Prosecutors have also agreed to lower the bonds for two others arrested during the manhunt.
Markeith Loyd’s niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, is no long facing charges of aiding the accused copy killer. Prosecutors have also agreed to lower the bonds for two others arrested during the manhunt.
Jancarlo Ortiz plead guilty and was sentenced to a 15-year prison sentence after running over an Orange County sheriff’s deputy.
Jancarlo Ortiz plead guilty and was sentenced to a 15-year prison sentence after running over an Orange County sheriff’s deputy.
An Orange County public defender pulled over for a DUI last week asked the trooper not to take him to jail because he was a good person, video shows.
An Orange County public defender pulled over for a DUI last week asked the trooper not to take him to jail because he was a good person, video shows.
An ongoing battle to stop sex trafficking ads on a classified ad website called Backpage has landed in Orlando federal court.
An ongoing battle to stop sex trafficking ads on a classified ad website called Backpage has landed in Orlando federal court.
Two men were arrested in Winter Garden after a $50 bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl ended in a brawl.
Two men were arrested in Winter Garden after a $50 bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl ended in a brawl.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
