Anna Maria General Store Burglary Suspect Arrested After Morning Break-In

ANNA MARIA – A 24-year-old man was arrested Monday morning after confessing to burglarizing the Anna Maria General Store on Pine Avenue.

Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to the store just after 5:30 a.m. on August 18, where they discovered a glass door shattered by a large rock. After clearing the business and reviewing surveillance footage, investigators identified the suspect and issued a be-on-the-lookout advisory.

Less than 90 minutes later, a Holmes Beach Police Department officer spotted a man matching the description walking along the Palma Sola Causeway. The suspect, identified as Leonardo J. Tilelli, was detained and later confessed to the break-in. Authorities also recovered items of evidentiary value during the arrest.

Tilelli, who does not have a listed address, was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure. He remained in custody at the Manatee County Jail as of Monday afternoon. Court records show no prior arrests for Tilelli in Manatee County.

Law enforcement officials noted the case as an example of effective collaboration between MCSO and the Holmes Beach Police Department in protecting local businesses and residents.