Vacant Homes Hit by Burglars

Recent incident reports from Tampa Police District 2:

Oct. 26

• A residential burglary was reported at the 6900 block of North Packwood Avenue. The culprit pried the wood around a lock on a 6-foot privacy fence and smashed a back window with a metal pipe. The back bedrooms appeared to have been searched through. The front door was found to be unlocked from the inside. Reported missing were: an Acer laptop computer, a women's gold Movado watch and gold hoop earrings.
• A Toyota Corolla was reported stolen from the parking lot of the Amscot at 2204 E. Hillsborough Ave. The victim left his keys in the car and went into the building. He came out nine minutes later and discovered his car was gone. His debit card was used at an unknown RedBox video rental machine early the next morning.

Oct. 27

• A residential burglary was reported at the 8700 block of North Ashley Drive. About $150 in coils was missing.

Oct. 28

• A residential burglary was reported at the 1800 block of East Knollwood Street. The culprit removed the rear door to enter the vacant home. Reported missing were a Kenmore refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer. The exterior air conditioning unit was also missing. While searching the home, police found an extension cord was plugged into an outlet and hanging out of a window. The cord was traced to a nearby home at  1816 Diana St., where John A. Mella, 57, was arrested on charges of stealing utilities and burglary. Mella, who police say was released from probation on Aug. 1 in connection with burglary charges, paid a $2,500 bond on Monday to gain release from jail. He has not been charged in the theft of the appliances.

Oct. 30

• A residential burglary was reported at the 100 block of West Hanna Avenue. The culprit pried open a side window and took a $350 foam mattress.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 6900 block of North Ola Avenue. The victim's son was arrested in connection with the theft of a BB gun, a camera and jewelry. Most of the items were recovered by the victim from a neighbor's house where his son has been living.
• About $3,000 in copper pipes was reported stolen from the 1700 block of West Patterson Street. Three large trash cans containing the pipes were removed from the home of an air conditioning repairman who sells parts out of his home.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 7400 block of North Talilaferro Avenue. The culprit removed the rear window, setting off an alarm. It did not appear that entry was made.