A late-night prowler call in Lutz turned into a vehicle-burglary case after two teenagers allegedly ran from a home where a witness reported seeing them targeting a car. A K-9 search and sheriff’s helicopter helped deputies track down both suspects.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Patton Court at 2:04 a.m. on July 7, according to the agency’s Facebook post. A witness reported seeing two individuals burglarizing a vehicle, and the pair fled on foot after being confronted.
Deputies Used A K-9 And Aviation Unit
The sheriff’s office said its K-9 unit searched the area while the aviation unit located one suspect walking nearby and found the other hiding in a backyard. Both suspects were arrested, according to the agency.
The teenagers were identified as Joshua Periana and Jude Brothers, both 15. Each was charged with three counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, meaning the two face six vehicle-burglary counts combined.
Charges Surfaced Three Weeks After The Incident
Florida law defines burglary as entering or remaining in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance with the intent to commit an offense, and the statute classifies burglary of an unoccupied conveyance as a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Legislature. The allegations against the two teenagers have not been tested in court.
The arrests became public through the sheriff’s July 30 update, 23 days after the overnight response in Lutz. The post did not indicate whether additional arrests or property-recovery details were expected.
