Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced a major crackdown on post-hurricane crime during a Thursday press conference at Madeira Beach City Hall, highlighting two separate operations targeting looters and fraudulent contractors.

In the first operation, law enforcement arrested 63 individuals for various crimes in barrier island communities between October 2-23. The charges included armed robbery, burglary, loitering, grand theft, vandalism, and trespassing. Gualtieri noted that 43 of those arrested were from outside Pinellas County, suggesting they had specifically targeted the storm-damaged area.

The enhanced law enforcement presence included 80 additional deputies patrolling during night shifts and 30 during day shifts in evacuated beach communities. Deputies also intercepted and turned away 196 individuals who had no legitimate business in the affected areas.

In a separate initiative dubbed “Operation Flood of Fraud,” undercover deputies posed as property owners in Madeira Beach to expose unlicensed contractors soliciting work in the hurricane-ravaged area. The sting operation, conducted in partnership with Pinellas County Consumer Protection, the Construction Licensing Board, and other agencies, resulted in 58 arrests on approximately 80 charges.

“These individuals falsely claimed to be licensed contractors capable of performing plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roofing, and structural work,” Gualtieri explained. Many of those arrested had extensive criminal records, and 21 were from outside Pinellas County. Due to the State of Emergency declaration by Florida’s governor, operating as an unlicensed contractor currently constitutes a felony offense.

The sheriff emphasized that these arrests—made on just a few streets in Madeira Beach—likely represent a fraction of the ongoing fraud attempts across the county. He urged residents to verify contractors’ credentials and obtain written documentation before agreeing to any repairs.

“These scammers and thieves are no different from those breaking into homes at 3 a.m.,” Gualtieri stated. The operation involved collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, Pinellas County Consumer Protection, Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, City of Madeira Beach, and the State Attorney’s Office.

As the briefing concluded, deputies demonstrated the ongoing nature of the crackdown by escorting two handcuffed suspects to a waiting van, in full view of assembled media representatives.

(Image credit: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)