Jupiter police unable to find car burglar after searching storm drain

Jupiter police searched a storm drain Monday for a person they believe may have been burglarizing cars in two separate neighborhoods earlier in the morning.

Police said they believed the person was hiding out in the drain underneath Indiantown Road.

A WFLX news crew at the scene counted about a dozen patrol cars, and also heard officers telling whoever is inside the drain to come out with his or her hands up.

WFLX has also seen officers using what look like aqua drones to try to locate the person.

Jupiter police Officer Kristin Rightler said this all started at about 5 a.m. Monday. Police believe this person was burglarizing cars in the neighborhoods of Pine Gardens and Woodland Estates.

At some point, police believe that person then fled into the storm drain, and officers have been trying to take the person into custody ever since.

Jennifer Gomez works right next door and was shocked watching the whole thing unfold.

"I've never seen anything like this before," Gomez said. "It's crazy. And working right here, like I said, it's crazy. I mean, is it even safe for us to be out here in this moment? As we work right here, too."

Jupiter police said Monday afternoon that after an "extensive search," the burglar was not located.

Authorities described the situation as an "isolated incident" and "no threat to the community."

Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Jupiter Police Department at 561-746-6201.

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