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Orange County single mother of twin 4-year-olds on the hook after van thief racks up $60 in tolls

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County woman already struggling to care for her twin 4-year-olds while undergoing chemotherapy after having her van stolen has been hit with some more bad news.

Whoever stole the van from an Orlando gas station on Orange Blossom Trail has been driving it on area toll roads to the tune of nearly $60.

Until Cheri Lattarulo is able to prove her van was stolen, she’s on the hook for the unpaid tolls.

“I’m already going through a lot,” she said. “It just feels like I was violated.”

The tolls being accumulated by the van thief are a pinprick, though, compared to the van being stolen in the first place, Lattarulo said.

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“I work full time,” she said. “I’m going through chemotherapy. So, now I’m relying on rides.”

The Central Florida Expressway Authority didn’t provide any numbers, but said it is not uncommon for stolen vehicles to be driven through toll booths.

Despite the van’s license plate being photographed as it drove through tolls at least 50 times, police had not been able to track down the thief.

There is new technology that should be installed by late 2018 that would help alert Florida Highway Patrol troopers when stolen vehicles are driven through tolls.

Right now, though, that doesn’t do much to help Lattarulo.

“I hope they do it faster,” she said. “They can easily find the vehicle.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit detectives said they were looking for Lattarulo’s van, but didn’t want to give away their investigative techniques.

Lattarulo pleaded with the thief Thursday to bring back her vehicle, which she desperately needs.

“I just really want my van back,” she said.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority said that if Lattarulo sends them a copy of the police report filed when her van was stolen, she would not have to pay the tolls.