22-year-old serial car thief arrested in Hillsborough County

Photo by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office | Press Release

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's Auto Theft Squad has successfully apprehended a subject responsible for a spree of high-end car thefts, a press release states.

According to the release, Daniel Schilling, 22, stole a Dodge Challenger out of the St. Petersburg area on October 10, 2023, at 5 a.m.

The following day at 4 p.m. detectives observed Schilling returning to and starting the stolen Dodge Challenger. Police say Schilling attempted to evade deputies, causing damage to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) vehicle, as well as two citizen vehicles.

A short foot pursuit then ensued between Schilling and HCSO deputies before he was successfully taken into custody. During an interrogation with detectives Schilling openly admitted he was involved in 12 other high-end Dodge thefts from various agencies over the past two months.

The 22-year-old was charged with the following:

• Grand Theft Motor Vehicle
• Aggravated Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer
• Aggravated Fleeing to Elude
• Resisting an Officer Without Violence
• Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
• Leaving the Scene of a Traffic Crash with Property Damage
• Violation of Probation

"Creating the Auto Theft Squad at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is our pledge to keeping our community safe," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "It's sending a clear message to criminals that we stand united against those who seek to steal our peace and cause lawlessness in our community."
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Any further information regarding this investigation will be released from the Public Affairs Office.
Article by Rachael Volpe