Detectives Connect Brother-Sister Crime Duo with Series of Burglaries and Thefts

                                                                                                               NEWS RELEASE #: 16-239 - DECEMBER 29, 2016

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a brother and sister from Nokomis after connecting them with a series of burglaries and thefts over the past few months throughout Sarasota County.

Detectives began their investigation on December 2, when a victim living in the 140 block of Da Vinci Dive in Osprey reported his vehicle and several other items missing from his home. Amidst the investigation on December 21, the Gulf Shores Resort located at 317 Casey Key Road, also reported a burglary in which two televisions and a linen cart were stolen from the property. Detectives obtained surveillance video capturing Chad and Meranda Janowiecki, both well known to law enforcement, pushing the linen cart containing a television. Resort staff disclosed to detectives that five prior burglaries had occurred since November and because the Janowiecki's grandparents previously owned the resort, Chad and Meranda's familiarity with the property made them suspicious.

Further investigation into the Janowieckis revealed an additional theft at Target, 8401 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, on December 17, in which loss prevention reported the suspect cut a security device off an X-box game console before fleeing the store. Surveillance video identified Chad as the suspect and showed him leaving the parking lot in the vehicle stolen during the December 2 burglary on Casey Key. Detectives also connected Chad to a November 13th theft of a home theatre system at the Walmart on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota.

On Wednesday afternoon, both Janoweicki's were taken into custody without incident at their home located at 213 Blackburn Road. Chad, DOB 08/19/98, faces two counts of Burglary, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, three counts of Grand Theft, two counts of Petit Theft and Use of an Anti-Shoplifting Device. He is currently in custody on $22,740 bond. Meranda, DOB 06/02/93, is charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Burglary, two counts of Grand Theft and a single count of Petit Theft. She remains in custody on $19,620 bond. Both have extensive criminal histories in Sarasota County and are considered prolific offenders.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.
Chad Janowiecki_12292016 Meranda Janowiecki_12292016