TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has arrested a man for allegedly stealing over $20,000 worth of gold bars.
According to the HCSO, on March 6, 2025, in the 14900 block of Aire Place in Tampa, a suspect approached a UPS driver and falsely claimed that a package was his. After checking the identification, the driver handed over the package. However, the identification was later determined to be fraudulent, and the package owner reported the theft.
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Detectives’ investigation identified Vitalijs Apetenoks, 33, as the suspect seen in doorbell camera video footage. An arrest warrant was issued for Apetenoks on March 13, 2025.
Apetenoks was apprehended in New Jersey on March 17, 2025, as he attempted to depart the country from Newark Airport.
Apetenoks has been charged with:
- Fraudulent Use of Personal Information
- Organized Fraud $20,000 to $50,000
- Grand Theft Second Degree
“Stealing from our community will not be tolerated, and fleeing our state won’t stop us from catching you,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We’ll continue to pursue these criminals and make sure anyone involved in these thefts faces the full consequences.”
The investigation is ongoing,
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