Leesburg 13-year-old suspected in nearly 20 percent of all car thefts, police say

LEESBURG, Fla. — A 13-year-old Leesburg boy is suspected in nearly 20 percent of all car thefts in the city and numerous other crimes, police said Friday.

Since he moved with his mother to the city in 2016, Jakiel Monroe has been arrested and charged with vehicle theft, aggravated assault and fleeing police, the Leesburg Police Department said.

Monroe is not alone, though, officers said.

Other juveniles in Leesburg have been charged with carrying out high-profile crimes, police spokesman Joe Iozzi said.

“There have been a couple of residential burglaries where homeowners have come home and found burglars inside their residences,” he said. “There were juveniles that were involved in that.”

In an effort to address the situation, the department appointed a juvenile crime specialist as a new position in 2016, Iozzi said.

“It was kind of a trial position last year, but it proved itself very effective and we may even add personnel to it, if we’re able to add personnel in the department,” he said.

Cox Media Group