Police in St. Cloud, Florida recently arrested two individuals they suspect of being part of a car burglary ring. These individuals are allegedly part of a group that has been roaming the state of Florida, cruising parking lots and busting into vehicles to steal things.

Police were alerted the evening of the arrest by victims who had found their vehicle window smashed out and their purse stolen in the parking lot of a supermarket. The victims called 911, which led police to search the area.

The officers’ search led them to the parking lot of a Gold’s Gym, where they noticed a suspicious looking Dodge Avenger driving with its lights off. When they stopped the vehicle and conducted a search, officers discovered a stolen item from a previous burglary in Central Florida.

Police arrested the two men in the Dodge Avenger on charges of grand theft, but officers said that four other suspects got away in another car, a silver Mazda 6. The two men in the Avenger were serving as a lookout for the other vehicle, according to police.

Investigators report that the thieves had been committing similar burglaries across the state. They began in South Florida, then burglarized vehicles along Interstate 95. The thieves also hit vehicles along Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike.

While it is fortunate that some of the members of this ring are now behind bars, there is no guarantee that the four that got away will be deterred from their current crime spree. So far the only information police have reported obtaining from the two men is a confirmation that the group had been stealing from vehicles all over the state - and that apparently the group prefers looking for vehicles in the parking lots of fitness centers.

It is always a good idea to remove all valuables from your vehicle before locking your doors. These thieves, and others like them, can only break into so many cars. If they see a purse or other valuables in your vehicle, they are much more likely to attempt a burglary.

Police are still on the lookout for the four other suspects, and request that anyone with any information please contact the St. Cloud Police Department.