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Charges Prove Some Stolen Items Are Hotter Than Others

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

TAMPA - Two men accused of swiping a fire extinguisher from a 2000 Honda convertible could be sentenced to five years in prison if convicted of boosting the gizmo, records show.

Stealing a fire extinguisher is a third-degree felony under state statutes and punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine up to $5,000 or both.

Fire extinguishers aren't the only property given special treatment under Florida statutes. Anyone convicted of stealing a firearm, a commercially farmed animal, a will or testament or more than 2,000 pieces of citrus in one swoop faces the same penalty.

According to affidavits, Daniel Mesa, 20, and Richard Barreiro, 19, both of Tampa, sliced open the top of the convertible about 12:50 a.m. today at 9105 W. Hillsborough Ave.

Working with two juveniles, who were not identified, the men removed two seats valued at more than $10,000, a radar detector, $500 worth of compact discs and a fire extinguisher, the affidavits state.

Someone saw the robbery.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office made the arrests about 1 a.m. roughly a block away and recovered the property, affidavits state.

Because of their probation status, Mesa and Barreiro are being held without bail at Orient Road Jail today. In addition to the fire-extinguisher offense, both are charged with felony burglary, felony criminal mischief and felony grand theft, jail records state.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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