Serial burglar charged with multiple vehicle burglaries | Crime

Sarasota, Florida -- Sarasota Sheriff's deputies have arrested a man they say is responsible for several vehicle burglaries over the past month in the Vamo area.

Detectives say 25-year-old Gene Luna broke into six vehicles on four different streets around 1:00 a.m. on July 17. One of the victims even spotted Luna and watched him break into two other vehicles before flagging down a deputy to report the crime.

While Luna could not be located at the time, pawn records and the thumbprint provided to a nearby broker tied Luna to one of the stolen items.

Luna, who has 23 burglary-related charges filed against him in the past three years, was also arrested last week for selling nine pairs of sunglasses that were stolen from a vehicle on North Washington Boulevard on July 10.

Luna faces six charges of Vehicle Burglary and one count each of Dealing in Stolen Property and Fraud for Filing a False Pawn Ticket. He was released yesterday after posting $32,500 bond.