Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

'Bait car' hooks thieving couple, police say

By Times Staff Writer
Published May 25, 2005

TAMPA - A couple on a late-night stroll ended up in jail Monday, after police said they broke into a "bait car" as an officer hiding nearby watched.

Police charged Jose Castro-Vega and Katherine Kocheran with burglary of a conveyance and grand theft. The couple remained at the Orient Road Jail Tuesday, each held on $4,000 bail.

Tampa police placed the car just north of Sulphur Springs, an area known for its high rate of car thefts, at N Mulberry and E Yukon streets. An officer hid inside a vacant house nearby to watch. Two carrying cases with laptop computers in them were inside the car, police said.

About 11:45 p.m., Castro-Vega, 32, and Kocheran, 37, took the bait, according to police. They live together in the neighborhood at 8622 N Mulberry St. and are engaged to be married, police said.

Officers gave the following account:

Kocheran put her face up to the car, then told her fiance what was inside. They walked around a bit talking about it, then Castro-Vega went back to the car. He realized the door was unlocked, so he opened it and took the laptops.

He led police on a foot chase before they caught and arrested him.

Castro-Vega has at least a dozen arrests in Hillsborough County since 2000, according to records. His previous charges have included driving with an invalid license, leaving the scene of a crash, grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of a structure and petty theft.

[Last modified May 25, 2005, 00:52:39]