Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight says a two-week effort to crack down on metal thefts and burglaries resulted in the arrest of 62 people, the recovery of 2 vehicles, 2 trailers and 21 hundred pounds of metals.

Such crimes are a huge problem in Sarasota County.

"Operation Meltdown" focused on two patterns: the theft of metals from air conditioners, light poles, and home siding that are taken to recyclers in exchange for cash; and daytime burglaries where suspects break into homes to steal jewelry and items to be sold to either pawn shops or gold buyers.

Knight blamed criminal's drug addictions rather than the economy. He intends to ask Sarasota County to pass an updated Second Hand Dealer ordinance to deter the situation.