Four female juveniles were arrested in Port Charlotte after a months-long string of liquor store thefts that spanned 16 jurisdictions.

The suspects, all juveniles from the St. Petersburg, Florida area, have been involved in liquor thefts across the state since at least December 2023. Altogether, the group are suspects in 19 cases from 16 different agencies.

On Feb. 27, Publix stores in both Venice and North Port were victims of organized retail theft of liquor, each by four females who were seen driving a black Kia sedan. Members of the North Port Police Department contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office relaying information that the vehicle was last seen heading toward the interstate and going southbound.

Deputies staged in the parking lot of the Publix Liquors located at Peachland Boulevard, believing that this would be the next target. As they pulled into the parking lot, they observed the suspect vehicle parking, and the four females exit the vehicle walking toward the store.

The store manager from Publix already got a phone call from the North Port Publix and had a photograph of the suspects. The manager observed the females approaching and ran over to lock the door before they could enter. The females were carrying large purses, which had been used to steal liquor in the prior cases.

Seeing the manager lock the door, the females headed back to the running vehicle, where they were confronted by deputies. Two of the juveniles complied while the other two females fled.

Another suspect was quickly caught and detained. The final suspect was ultimately located hiding in the bushes in a median.

“This is a perfect example of the power of intelligence-led policing,” said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell. “As I have said before, we have excellent working relationships with our surrounding law enforcement agencies, and it has paid off once again. Criminals seem to think they can get away with stuff in Charlotte County, and I am more than happy to prove them wrong over and over again. Hopefully the message is getting clearer: just stay out of our county if you are thinking about committing a crime.”

A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle, where deputies located more than 50 bottles of assorted liquor. The females were transported to the District 3 office and questioned, where they confessed to two open cases in Charlotte County and several from other jurisdictions.

All four females were placed under arrest and transported to the Charlotte County Jail. They are all out on bond and are set to appear in court on April 2.