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55 Busted in Tampa 'Operation Spring Cleaning'

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By JEFF PATTERSON | News Channel 8

Published: March 26, 2009

Updated: 03/26/2009 09:33 pm

It begins with a sharp knock on the door, followed by shouted commands from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies.

"Unlock the door and put your hands on your head."

Dozens of deputies and Tampa police officers are sweeping neighborhoods in North Tampa and the University Community area.

Law enforcement will spend the next two days serving more than 150 warrants to known felons and other criminals.

"As far as we're concerned, if you're wanted and we're close by we're looking for you," says Capt. John Newman of the Tampa Police Department.

Lawmen are calling their combined effort "Operation Spring Cleaning." They are rounding up drug offenders, robbery suspects, even parents behind on child support and traffic offenders who've skipped out on court dates.

"This is an extension of an operation we did a hundred days ago, right before the holiday season to try and create a momentum shift in crime in this community," says Newman.

Tampa Police officers say they will also be proactively looking for crimes in progress in targeted neighborhoods.

"We have our prostitution squad and our street anti crime squad still in the areas investigating burglaries, looking for pattern crimes," says Newman. "So, it's a lot of different layers and it's a lot of fun"

Authorities made 55 arrests today.

News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson can be reached at (813) 221-5703.

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