KISSIMMEE – Two men have been arrested, accused in a string of residential vacation home burglaries in Osceola, Polk and Lake counties.
Deputies recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods in an undercover investigation.
Detectives said Patrick McAvoy and David Castle were involved in almost 200 burglaries that officers said were thoroughly planned.
"It was a sophisticated operation, very advanced,” said Twis Lizasuain from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. “They most recently purchased a business license, where they were using water purifying as a business to enter some of the subdivisions that had security in those areas. That's recent."
Officials said the burglaries took place mostly in the Four Corners area, and most of them were in short-term rentals used mainly by vacationers.
Investigators believe McAvoy and Castle may have been committing these crimes since February 2007.
Deputies said both men have extensive criminal histories.
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