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Hillsborough River Search Yields Stolen Cadillac

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO.

Tampa police divers pull a submerged Cadillac out of the Hillsborough River.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2008

Updated: 02/05/2008 11:52 am

TAMPA - Police divers used sonar to locate a stolen silver Cadillac CTS that plunged into the Hillsborough River this morning.

No one was inside, Tampa police say.

The owner told police his keys disappeared from a YMCA on Monday, Sgt. Alan Draffin said.

The owner, who lives in South Tampa, wasn't aware his car had been stolen until he was contacted by police late this morning, Draffin said.

Police had been searching for the car since about 4 a.m.

Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said earlier this morning that the search wouldn't be easy because the current is strong.

The search was at 5217 Bon Vivant Drive, near Legacy Arms apartments, a few blocks south of Hillsborough Avenue.

A witness, Kevin Soto, said he didn't see anyone in the vehicle when he saw it floating near a boat ramp at the apartments. He said his fiancee called police to alert them to the car.

The car traveled 100 to 150 yards from the ramp before sinking, Draffin said. It was pulled from the river late this morning.

Using sonar, it took about 30 minutes to find the car, Draffin said. The first hit came about 9:30 a.m.

Draffin said it's common for people to dump stolen cars off the ramp. It has happened at least five to six times during the past five to 10 years and included a stolen Jeep Cherokee and a stolen minivan in the past year or so, he said.

"It's a nice secluded boat ramp in the middle of nowhere," he said.

People dump stolen cars in the Hillsborough River because they think it's cool to do so, he said. They also think water will wash away their fingerprints.

"It won't," Draffin said. "Once the car dries, it can be dusted for prints."

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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