Southpinellas: 2 charged in burglary attempt at vet clinic

2 charged in burglary attempt at vet clinic

By ROSALIND HELDERMAN

ST. PETERSBURG -- Two men have been arrested following a string of burglaries at area animal hospitals.

Police arrested Vincent Michael Dimatteo, 21, and Joseph J. Durish, 25, in connection with an attempted burglary early Saturday morning at the Northeast Animal Hospital, 1401 Fourth St. N.

There also were break-ins at two other animal hospitals this weekend: Animal Medical Hospital, 2540 30th Ave. N, and the Haines Road Animal Hospital, 4342 Haines Road N.

The two men have been charged only with attempted burglary at the Northeast Animal Hospital, but police are continuing to investigate possibilities that the men are tied to the other break-ins.

According to Officer Chip Wells, police think burglars were in search of narcotics, including Valium and ketamine. Ketamine is a cat tranquilizer that is sometimes used on the street as a hallucinogenic. It is known as K, Super K, Special K, Kit Kat or Vitamin K.

But veterinarian Michael Eldridge, who works at the Animal Medical Hospital, said drugs meant for animals can be harmful to humans.

"Any of these drugs have the potential to be dangerous," he said. "The kids are at some risk."

For Eldridge, the Friday night burglary was the second at his clinic in a week. Both times, burglars entered the building through a broken window. Both times, burglars stole small amounts of narcotics. Eldridge declined to reveal how much.

"The monetary loss was not great. It's more a problem of having these controlled substances out there," he said.

Burglars also attempted to enter the Haines Road Animal Hospital on Friday night through a broken window. There, an alarm alerted police, who arrived to find the broken window, but no burglars.

But police were ready Saturday morning. On normal patrols, Officer Jorge Sotolongo saw a man on the roof of the Northeast Animal Hospital. Wells said Sotolongo found Dimatteo and Durish trying to get into the building.

"This was good investigative work by the officer," Wells said.

Dimatteo, of 5513 12th Ave. S., and Durish, of 4033 67th Ave. N., remain at the Pinellas County Jail. Bail for Dimatteo was set at $30,000. Durish is being held without bail.