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Highlands Today

Woman Remains In Jail On Burglary Charges

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: March 21, 2009

LAKE PLACID - A Sebring woman remained in jail Friday on no bond after being arrested on charges of burglarizing a Lake Placid home and making off with $9,000 worth of items.
Holly Marie Waters, 22, of 1505 Penny Ave., Sebring, was arrested Wednesday and charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling while unarmed, burglary of an unoccupied structure while unarmed, grand theft of $300 or more, grand theft of $5,000 or more, dealing in stolen property and fraud.

A second suspect, Reinaldo Santiago, 33, was booked into the Highlands County Jail March 17 on charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling while unarmed, burglary of an unoccupied structure while unarmed, grand theft of $300 or more, grand theft of $5,000 or more and dealing in stolen property. Both he and Waters were reportedly living at the Penny Avenue address.

On March 3, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office received a report of a home burglary on Williams Road in Lake Placid. The owner said a friend was doing weekly checks while he stayed at his second home in New Jersey. The last time the house was checked was Feb. 24, according to the arrest report.

The suspects reportedly broke into the house, a locked shed and a playhouse.

They were said to have stolen: a bed, dresser, makeup stand, jewelry cabinet, curio glass cabinet, two televisions, tools, chainsaw, weed eater, wrenches, stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer, a collection of eight 1950s model Chevrolet cars, Disney snow globes and clocks, two leather recliners, jewelry, collectible coins, a cup and saucer collection and a 60-gallon air compressor.

The items were valued between $8,000 and $9,000, the report stated.

An informant eventually came forward and gave information about the case. Investigators went to a home in Park Crest Terrace because it was thought the missing items were there. The resident signed a consent to search form and authorities reportedly found the eight model Chevrolet cars.

The woman said Santiago had come to her apartment and given the cars to her son. The victim was sent a photo of the models and identified them as his.

Law enforcement was also given a trash bag from the woman that had a pair of sneakers and two pairs of work boots inside. She said Waters came by the house the night before and asked her to hold onto the shoes and boots for a day or so.

The tread pattern of the sneakers matched an impression left on the hood of the victim's vehicle. Investigators also learned that Waters had pawned a 60-gallon air compressor at Capital Pawn in Sebring, the report stated.

Search warrants were obtained for 1505 Penny Ave., and authorities allegedly found the bed, dresser, makeup stand, jewelry cabinet and curio glass cabinet.

Law enforcement, through their investigation, also got warrants for a search of a second Williams Road home. Both the televisions were found, but there have been no other interviews because no one was home during the second search.

Roger St. Laurent Jr., with the sheriff's office's Criminal Investigations Unit, made the arrests.

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