Officials arrest dozens for looting and illicit contracting in the Pinellas barrier islands

Pinellas deputies arrested numerous suspects this month as they cracked down on looting and trespassing in Pinellas beach towns after Hurricanes Helene and Milton displaced many residents.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon in Madeira Beach, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the severe damage caused by the hurricanes had attracted unprecedented numbers of criminals to the beaches.

“We've never seen anything of this magnitude before, we've never seen this influx of people from the region who are clearly just here to steal and steal and do bad things and target these vulnerable people he said.

Between Oct. 2 and Thursday, officers conducting looting patrols on the barrier islands had arrested 45 people for armed robbery, burglary, loitering and prowling, grand larceny, vandalism and trespassing.

Two of the suspects are Pinellas County residents and 41 are non-U.S. citizens, Gualtieri said.

“They go into people's houses, they take stuff, they search their stuff,” Gualtieri said. “In one case, it was an armed robbery where they went in and robbed them by force.”

Officers also made contact with nearly 200 people who appeared suspicious, but were unable to establish probable cause for their arrest. Instead, the officers asked her to leave.

Gualtieri said the majority of suspects and those asked by officers to move on were not from the area, often in vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

As of Thursday afternoon, investigators had also arrested 62 people on more than 100 allegations of illicit contracting as part of a three-day undercover operation in Madeira Beach.

Suspects approached the undercover agents and “posed themselves as licensed contractors” offering plumbing, electrical, roofing and other construction work, Gualtieri said. According to the sheriff's office, the suspects illegally completed at least 75 projects worth a total of $250,000.

Nearly all of those arrested in this operation had extensive criminal records that may have prevented them from obtaining building permits, so they circumvent the vetting process by entering into unlicensed contracts, he said.

“It's really quite telling and quite sad that this whole operation only took place on a few streets in Madeira Beach,” Gualtieri said. “This happens all along Pinellas beaches, from Clearwater all the way down to St. Pete Beach.”

Gualtieri said the sheriff's office will prioritize protecting residents and businesses as they rebuild from the storms.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “This is the epitome of people trying to exploit others when they are down and out and when they are trying to rebuild and they have nothing.”

Tips for choosing a contractor

State and local law requires any contractor you hire to be state certified or licensed. Officials say properly licensed, experienced contractors will provide safer, higher quality services.

Pinellas County officials advise property owners to be wary of contractors who:

• No state license number can be provided;
• Requires you as the “owner/builder” to obtain planning permission or claims you will save money by not obtaining permission;
• Asks for cash or large advance payments.

Unlicensed contractors do not have insurance coverage, so any injury that occurs to your property constitutes a claim against you and your insurance company.

For more guidance on choosing a contractor, click here from the Pinellas County Construction Services Department.

Times staff writer Tony Marrero contributed to this report.