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Despite Pleas, Wheels Not Returned

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

A.J. Stathas went to bed last night full of hope.

"Daddy," the 10-year-old said to his father, Allen, owner of Cars Unlimited on 201. W. Fletcher Ave., "wake me up at midnight. We'll drive down and they will be there."

Earlier this week, Allen Stathas had posted a sign outside his dealership, letting whoever took about $3,000 worth of wheels and tires that they were captured on surveillance video and that they had until Friday night to return the purloined auto parts.

"FOOLISH THIEVES: WE HAVE YOU ON CAMERA. RETURN THE TIRES AND WHEELS BY FRIDAY."

A.J. was convinced that the wheel rustlers would see the error of their ways. His father was too.

"A lot of people were," says Stathas.

Friends, family and customers were "excited at the possibility that, when someone is given the chance to do the right thing, they would."

Alas, it was not to be.

When dawn broke, A.J.'s hopes were deflated.

No wheels. No tires. Now the police have the video tape and are investigating, Stathas says.

"We were heartbroken when we got to the lot this morning," he says. "We were heartbroken that the guy had a chance to get out of this and didn't take it."

But his proactive crime-fighting stance isn't ending with the current sign.

Stathas says he is making another one, which he will unveil Monday.

"This time, I am offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever did this," he says. "We know the police have really good footage, that is not the problem. But in case this person is not in the system, you figure that $5,000 is going to bring somebody out of the woodwork."

He says the reward money, even though for more than the goods are worth, is a good security investment.

"It is better than hiring a security guard," he says.

It's worked before, he says.

A few years ago, after a major incident of vandalism at his lot, in which cars were slashed, smashed and otherwise trashed, he offered a $10,000 reward.

It paid off. An arrest was made and now the offender is not only paying off the damage – about $20,000 worth – but he is also paying the reward money.

"I still receive payments," says Stathas.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com

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