Sarasota Crime Ring Suspects Charged For 8 More Burglaries

Two women in a suspected burglary ring face charges for eight additional burglaries after being charged earlier this month for other burglaries.

The Sarasota Police Department announced Monday that Alyssa Conrad, who identifies herself as homeless, and Caroline Catarzi, of 2052 Prospect St., each face eight additional burglary counts in addition to other charges. 

Catarzi, 20, and Conrad, 23, were part of a four-woman ring who are being charged for breaking into homes throughout Sarasota to fund their prescription drug addiction, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Conrad admitted her involvement in several burglaries, according to police and the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office charges were for burglaries in the Southgate area where jewelry, coins and cash were stolen and some items were pawned to fund their Oxycodone addiction, according to the sheriff's office.

Conrad and Catarzi were charged by the sheriff's office with five counts of burglary among other charges. 

Here's what they now face from Sarasota Police:

• Conrad: eight counts of burglary, two counts dealing in stolen property and  two counts defrauding a second-hand dealer
• Catarzi: eight burglary counts, one count of dealing in stolen property and one count defrauding a second-hand dealer.

Police drove Conrad through the city where she identified some of the homes she burglarized, according to the affidavits.

The homes burglarized in the city were on Clematis, Prospect, Floyd, Wisteria and Hibiscus streets, Jefferson Circle, Clematis Place and Sunnyside Lane, according to police.          

In one instance, a homeowner claimed that her stolen jewelry from Tiffany's, Switzerland, pendants, necklaces and a ring were worth $130,000. When Conrad sold the empty gold pendant and Catarzi sold the remaining jewelry at the same store, they received $44 total, according to the affidavit. 

The women were joined by Samantha Smith and Brandy Kinney where the suspects would knock on the front door, proceed to the rear if nobody answered and force their way into the home, according to the probable cause affidavit. Smith and Kinney only face charges for now from the sheriff's office. 

The investigation is continuing and additional charges are anticipated, according to police.  Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to contact Detective Laster at 941-954-7070.

For more on the prior charges:

• Four Women Face Charges In Burglary Ring