Are AP Car Burglaries Organized?

Police Det. Dan Burke retrieved three stolen purses from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, recovered recently in a bag on the roadside by a county cleanup crew near the Florida's Natural juice plant in Lake Wales.

The crew turned the purses over to authorities.

The recovered purses were stolen from several vehicles while the women who owned them attended church services at a church near Anoka Boulevard and U.S. 27, according to Burke on Thursday.

The owners of the purses were identified by the contents and were returned to their owners, he said.

Burke said the case was still under investigation and would not say if any credit cards were used to commit any thefts or fraud in Highlands or Polk counties.

A story that appeared in a Polk County newspaper stated law enforcement authorities there believed an organized crime ring could be responsible. Stolen credit cards were used at various businesses in southern Polk and Highlands counties, it reported.

"There have been multiple vehicle burglaries throughout the county," said Burke, adding that he couldn't say if the method of breaking into the vehicles was the same. "Whether they are actually related, we don't know.

He said the close proximity of Avon Park to southern Polk County makes it plausible that criminals from either county could be crossing over.

"I know there was a case from Winter Haven where property was discovered in Sebring. Whether it's linked I wouldn't say it's definitive. I think it would be a little bit premature to say it's a ring."

The vehicle burglaries reportedly happened in Polk County at churches, gyms, eateries and ball fields, the news report stated.

Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr said there hasn't been a rash of car burglaries for some time, "a couple here and there."

Lake Placid Police Sgt. James Fansler said there was nothing to report there as far as organized car burglaries.

Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle said the sheriff's office did work a case where cars were burglarized at a church. It did turn out to be an organized ring operating out of Lee County and arrests were made.

Burke said people can prevent being victims to this type of crime by being more aware of their surroundings and not setting themselves up to become victims.

"Most of the victims have been women and most of the property taken has been handbags," Burke said. "So, they leave them in the car. Don't do that!"

If you don't want to carry them to the ball park, the church, or a store, leave them home and take the contents you need, driver's license, credit card, money, etc., with you, he said.

"Look for people who are watching you," he said.