Thieves are targeting numerous residential construction sites around the city, according to police. Appliances, tools and even a window are among the items that have been taken from the sites by unknown suspects.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department hasn’t yet determined if the thefts – seven reported since the end of January – are the work of a single thief, multiple thieves or otherwise connected, according to Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, a spokesman for the department.
What each of the thefts has in common, though, is the lack of forced entry, and all the pilfering has occurred at new home construction sites.
The sites range from as far north as the Torino community on NW Cataluna Circle, where a window was taken, to as far south as SW Tulip Boulevard in the Whispering Pines community, where two homes were hit.
The thefts went as far west as NW McGregor Lane, near Glades Cutoff Road – a refrigerator was stolen – and as far east as NW Dorothy Street, east of Selvitz Road and north of Airoso Boulevard.
While they continue to investigate, police encourage residents to keep a sharp eye on nearby home construction sites as well as offer tips to home builders to secure their worksites.
The tips are as follows:
- Assign a supervisor that has schedules for deliveries and sub-contractors that will be on site.
- Deliveries of high-dollar items such as appliances should be delivered after the home is securable.
- Tools should be inventoried and serial numbers should be logged to assist in investigations of theft.
- Large residential communities under construction could employ private security.
- Security gates and fences around the residential developments could be erected before home sites to secure the area and limit traffic.
- Improve lighting around construction sites to deter burglars during the overnight hours and assist security to observe any suspicious activity.
The following are the cases the Port St. Lucie Police Department is investigating:
- Jan. 29-30: 100 block of SW Tulip Blvd. – generator, drill, table saw, miter
- Feb. 7-8: 6900 block of NW Dorothy St. – dishwasher, stove, microwave
- Feb. 7-8: 300 block of SW Tulip Blvd. – paint gun
- Feb. 14-15: 1700 block of Apache Ave. – 30 boxes of floor tile
- Feb. 23-24: 2300 block of SW Savona Blvd. – oven/range
- Feb. 15-March 1: 1500 block of NW Cataluna Circle – window
- Feb. 19-March 5: 12000 block of NW McGregor Lane – refrigerator
Those who suspect their residential construction site has suffered a theft or those who might have information regarding any of the known thefts are encouraged to contact the Port St. Lucie Police Department by calling 772-871-5000 or remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers 800-273-8477. n