OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Multiple arrests have been made in connection with a series of burglaries targeting short-term rental properties across Osceola County, officials said.
Between May 31 and June 3, several homes were broken into through back doors in the early morning hours. Victims reported discovering missing wallets, electronics, jewelry, bags, and purses after waking up. The thieves allegedly took the items outside before stealing what was valuable.
Following the burglaries, victims noticed fraudulent charges on their credit and debit cards. Police traced some of the unauthorized transactions to the Mall at Millenia and obtained security footage from nearby stores.
Authorities located two suspects, Demond Mansfield, 18, and Dylan Watson, 18, using the stolen cards at the mall. They were arrested near a silver Ford Explorer, where multiple wallets, credit and debit cards were found in the vehicle’s passenger door panel. A search warrant of the vehicle uncovered additional stolen items and cellphones.
Mansfield confessed to committing the crimes with three to four other males, communicating through a group chat. Watson confirmed the story. The other suspects were identified as 18-year-olds James Apollon, Davidree Reese Jr., Ronie Joseph Jr., and 19-year-old Jlen Chisholm.
As of July 9, three suspects had been arrested and held on $21,000 bond each, while Ronie Joseph Jr. remains at large.
Chats from the group revealed plans to target homes, discussed burglary alarms, and showed the suspects together at the mall on burglary dates. Cellphone evidence included photos from inside stolen homes, selfies of suspects in camouflage masks, images of a handgun, and stolen PlayStation consoles.
Pawn records confirm the suspects sold some of the stolen items.
