A 33-year-old man, Vitalijs Apetenoks, has been arrested in New Jersey for stealing over $20,000 worth of gold bars in Tampa. Authorities from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) say the theft occurred more than two weeks ago, on March 6.
According to the sheriff’s office, Apetenoks approached a UPS driver, claiming a package was his. After the driver verified his ID, he handed over the package, unaware that the ID was fraudulent. The actual package owner later reported the theft.
During their investigation, deputies discovered doorbell video footage that captured Apetenoks during the incident, which occurred in the 14900 block of Aire Place in Tampa.
Following an arrest warrant, Apetenoks was apprehended in New Jersey at Newark Airport while attempting to leave the country. He faces charges of fraudulent use of personal information, organized fraud (ranging from $20,000 to $50,000), and grand theft (second degree).
Sheriff Chad Chronister remarked, “Stealing from our community will not be tolerated, and fleeing our state won’t stop us from catching you. We’ll continue to pursue these criminals and make sure anyone involved in these thefts faces the full consequences.”
The HCSO is continuing their investigation into the case.
