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Man Charged In Pinellas Burglary, Suspected In Others

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TBO.com

Published: August 6, 2008

LARGO - Pinellas sheriff's authorities have arrested a man in one burglary and say he is a suspect in dozens of others in the Tampa Bay area.

Matthew Samuel Stratis, 39, of 6834 Lassen Ave., New Port Richey, was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and three counts of resisting arrest. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail this morning.

A woman described by sheriff's authorities as Stratis' getaway driver was also taken into custody. Anthonnette Kimberly Betancourt, 39, of 5618 James St., New Port Richey, was charged with commercial burglary.

Over the past two weeks, members of the sheriff's Strategic Analytical Response Team, along with burglary detectives, have been conducting surveillance at numerous plazas and strip malls, to identify a suspect in dozens of burglaries to businesses in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties.

As deputies were conducting surveillance at a commercial plaza on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor this morning, they spotted a man using a pry bar to smash out the glass of His and Hers Hair Design, 35857 U.S. 19 N.

As deputies approached, the man ran, but he was arrested immediately. He was later identified as Stratis. Betancourt was in a getaway vehicle nearby, authorities said.

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