Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit

Pinellas County Consumer Protection

Pinellas County Contracting and Licensing Board

Florida Department of Financial Services

Business of Professional Regulations

City of Madeira Beach

State Attorney’s Office for the 6^th Judicial Circuit of Florida

PINELLAS COUNTY - On October 24, 2024, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference to discuss the criminal activity that has been occurring on the barrier islands in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Between October 2, 2024, and October 23, 2024, deputies conducted looting patrols on the barrier islands and arrested 45 suspects on 68 different charges. These charges include armed robbery, burglary, loitering and prowling, grand theft, vandalism and trespassing. Deputies located 196 additional individuals who were on the islands, however probable cause was not established, and they were told to move along.

Detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit completed a three-day operation, “Flood of Fraud”, that led to the arrest of 64 suspects, with 102 charges. The operation ran from Tuesday, October 22, 2024, through Thursday, October 24, 2024, on Madeira Beach.

Sheriff Gualtieri stated, “As the Pinellas beaches recover, we are going to continue these patrols and arrest everyone we can who is stealing from the vulnerable victims of two back-to-back storms that have devastated our community. Our effort to protect the community has not stopped with these hurricanes’ direct impact. We are now focused on protecting our residents and our businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get on with their lives.”

To view the full press conference, visit: https://youtu.be/c9HVL-9Q7UE