Couple Charged in Connection with String of Burglaries and Vehicle Thefts

NEWS RELEASE 17-257 - DECEMBER 13, 2017
    Villecco, Shawn    Colton, Alenamarie
     Villecco                                                       Colton



The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Sarasota couple Friday in connection with a string of burglaries and vehicle thefts.

The investigation began December 5 when detectives responded to the Beekman Place neighborhood to investigate several reports of stolen vehicles and burglaries that occurred overnight. One victim reported his camera and laptop were taken from inside his vehicles. Through investigation, detectives found the stolen items listed for sale on Facebook by Shawn Villecco, DOB 08/21/93, and Alenamarie Colton, DOB 12/07/93. Through continued investigation on Thursday, using surveillance video from a Bradenton Walmart, detectives identified Colton using a credit card stolen during the burglaries. The next day, when Tactical Unit deputies visited the couple’s home on Orange Avenue, they located one of the stolen vehicles in the parking lot. A search warrant was executed on Saturday yielding another stolen vehicle, a motorcycle, inside the home. Based on the investigation, detectives connected the duo to four incidents that occurred December 5 however, the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending. 

Villecco and Colton are both charged with four counts of Burglary, four counts of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and a single count of Dealing in Stolen Property. Villecco is being held on $118,000 bond and Colton is being held on $73,000 bond. Villecco was released from prison in August.