Man Arrested In Connection With Avon Park Vehicle Burglaries

A man remained in jail Tuesday in lieu of a $105,000 bond after his weekend arrest on burglary charges.

Corey Michael Bieber, 24, of Melbourne, is charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance while unarmed, burglary of a dwelling or conveyance while armed, possession of a weapon by a convicted Florida felon, theft of $300 or more and grand theft of a firearm.

His arrest stemmed from a series of vehicle burglaries in the Avon Park Lakes subdivision in Avon Park between Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Bieber reportedly entered an unlocked 1999 Land Rover SUV and stole a $600 Kodak digital camera with a telephoto lens, a box of .380 ammunition and a $100 .380 semi-automatic handgun.

A K-9 unit with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office was used to track from the scene to the 3000 block of West Carmine Road in Avon Park, according to the arrest report. The suspect could not be located.

Then, on Nov. 30, at 12:44 a.m., a second vehicular burglary happened within a quarter of a mile of the first. The victim was walking to her vehicle, a 2004 Oldsmobile minivan, saw that the interior light was on and heard one of the doors closing, the report stated.

The victim told authorities she did see a person "short in stature" who was wearing a "hoodie" sweat jacket, with the hood covering his face. She then began to scream, which startled the suspect and caused him to flee the scene.

The victim's van was reportedly "ransacked" on the inside, but nothing was found missing.

A K-9 unit was again utilized, and it led authorities to the area of 3210 W. Carmine Road, according to the report. Deputies learned that Bieber was inside and permission was granted to search the home.

The suspect was found, as was a semi-automatic pistol, which was identified by the first victim as the one taken from his vehicle, according to authorities. The weapon was discovered inside a clothes dryer full of linens.

Once the gun was found, Bieber allegedly fled the residence and headed north toward Lake Chilton Drive. A K-9 track was utilized and the suspect was found in the taller vegetation around the water's edge of Lake Chilton.

During an interrogation, Bieber allegedly admitted to stealing the firearm. The ammunition and camera taken in the same burglary were also reportedly found in the room the suspect was occupying.

HCSO Deputy Thomas D. Moran IV made the arrest.