ST. PETERSBURG — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist will host a nonprofit programs expo Feb. 3 at the Childs Park Recreation and Fitness Center, an event he hopes will be a small but meaningful piece in the ongoing fight to stem Pinellas County's juvenile auto theft epidemic.
The expo is supposed to connect local teens to organizations that can help them stay out of trouble. Crist, a St. Petersburg Democrat, held several meetings last year to gather community input on the car theft crisis. Adults and kids alike told him that young people here are bored, often lacking mentors and support systems.
"The takeaway from our meeting last summer was that kids are hungry for programs aimed at their interests," Crist said in a statement Thursday. "It was also clear we need to do a better job letting them know what's currently available."
Eight Pinellas teens have died in incidents involving stolen cars in the last two years. The epidemic was the subject of a Tampa Bay Times series, "Hot Wheels," which examined the dangers and causes of the crime. Reporters found that police here arrested more juveniles for stealing cars than in any other county in Florida. Kids on average crashed stolen cars once every four days.
TAMPA BAY TIMES SPECIAL REPORT: HOW TEENS ARE DRIVING PINELLAS COUNTY'S CAR THEFT EPIDEMIC
THE CHASE: Cops, teen car thieves and a dangerous game
WRONG WAY: At 15, Isaiah Battle was the county's No. 1 car thief. He had every reason to stop.
The series has led to sweeping changes in authorities' approach to juvenile auto theft. Legislators and police have stiffened laws and bolstered support services for young thieves in unstable homes.
Trying to turn around juvenile car thieves, one case at a time
Crist joined a chorus of community leaders who called for holistic fixes last spring.
"This is a serious problem in our community," he said then. "People are dying because of what's happening here."
The expo will take place Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m.-noon. The Childs Park recreation center is located at 4301 13th Ave S in St. Petersburg.
Contact Zachary T. Sampson at zsampson@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8804. Follow @ZackSampson.
