More than 100 people, including at least 41 illegal immigrants, have been arrested in Florida for allegedly looting and defrauding hurricane victims. Helen and Miltonlocal law enforcement officials said.

Looting patrols in Pinellas County over the past three weeks have arrested 45 suspects on 68 charges, including armed robbery, burglary, loitering and prowling, grand larceny, vandalism and trespassing, according to the county sheriff of Pinellas, Bob Gualtieri.

“They go into people’s homes, take stuff, go through their stuff,” Gualtieri said.

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Another 58 suspects were arrested during an operation allegedly targeting unlicensed contractors. Gualtieri said their scams primarily involved charging victims a total of $250 million for repairs they never intended to make.

“It’s the epitome of people trying to exploit others when they’re in trouble and when they’re away, and they try to rebuild and they have nothing,” Gualtieri said.

At a news conference, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri provided an update on the arrest of dozens of illegal immigrants who allegedly stole from and scammed victims of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

Of the 45 suspects arrested by anti-looting patrols across Pinellas County’s barrier islands, at least 41 are illegal immigrants, Gualtieri said during a news conference Thursday. He added that almost all of the suspects were from South or Central America.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has arrested more than 100 people accused of taking advantage of victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

Suspects arrested in connection with the contract scams typically offered to complete projects, including plumbing, roofing and electrical work, totaling more than $250 million.

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Gualtieri added that one suspect even had business cards allowing him to pose as a legitimate contracting company.

“People offer to do work on their property, but in some cases have no intention of doing the work. In other cases, they are not qualified to perform the work and, in all of these cases, do not have a permit to perform the work. » said Gualtieri.

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A drone view shows destroyed beach homes after Hurricane Milton made landfall on Manasota Key, Florida, October 11, 2024. (Reuters/Ricardo Arduengo/File photo)

The sheriff added that his office had contact with 196 other individuals who were in seaside neighborhoods where they did not belong, but that officers had no probable cause to arrest them. Of these, 163 were found be illegal immigrantshe said.

“So we made contact with them and told them to get out,” Gualtieri said. “We’ve never seen anything of this magnitude before. We’ve never seen this influx of people coming from outside the area, who are clearly there just to steal, pilfer, do bad things and target these vulnerable people.”

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Gualtieri said almost everyone arrested during the three-week operation had a heavy criminal record.

“As Pinellas beaches recover, we will continue these patrols and arrest anyone stealing from vulnerable victims of two consecutive storms that have devastated our community,” Gualtieri said.

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Gualtieri said the sheriff’s office dozens of additional agents will patrol the barrier islands day and night to keep out people who don’t belong there.

“Our efforts to protect the community did not stop with the direct impact of these hurricanes. We are now focused on protecting our residents and businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get their lives back on track.