St. Petersburg police have arrested two suspects: 20-year-old Cody Tompkins and 18-year-old James White after they were caught in the act of stealing boats from the Vinoy Marina and were fleeing from security at the marina. There was also a 17-year-old involved, according to police, but he wasn’t arrested.
According to the St. Pete police, the incident happened around 11:00 p.m. Monday night. The three suspects were located by responding officers in the area of 3rd Avenue NE and Beach Drive. Police found that they were in possession of alcohol that they had stolen from one of the boats, as well. They were positively identified by marina security.
Officers learned that the owner of one of the boats was actually sleeping on the boat at the time the teens stole it. He was awakened by the suspects walking on the deck and called security.
All three suspects were charged with 2 counts of armed burglary as one suspect was armed with a knife. Tompkin, who was on probation for burglary, was also charged with probation violation. White was also charged with burglary to another boat that took place on the 20th of September at the Marina in which guns, a TV and alcohol were taken.
