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Crime

Catalytic converter thieves hit 3 car dealerships in 2 months

St. Petersburg, Florida -- The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office needs the public's help identifying a person seen on camera trying to steal catalytic converters from a local car dealership.

Detectives say in the evening or early morning hours between Sept. 26 and Nov. 25, three car dealerships were the victim of thieves stealing the converters from vehicles in the dealer's lots.

The most recent theft occurred on Nov. 25 at Import Auto's on 34th Street North in St. Pete.

Girlfriend charged in stabbing death of St. Pete man

St. Petersburg, Florida -- An argument between a couple with a history of domestic disputes turned deadly Thursday afternoon.

St. Pete Police say a woman called 911 around 1 p.m. saying a man had been stabbed. The man, identified as 32-year-old Michael Espy, was rushed to a local hospital with a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead a little over a half-hour later.

Detectives interviewed the woman, 24-year-old Jillian Smith, who called 911 and was at the home in the 6400 block of 6th Avenue N. when officers and paramedics arrived.

Don't bite on BBB phishing scam!

St. Petersburg, Florida -- Phishing scams look like legitimate email, and they are getting more sophisticated every day.  A new scam is hitting mailboxes all over the country, including the 10 News studios in St. Pete.

What con artists are really after, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), is your banking and financial information. And they won't mind destroying your computer to get it.

Police: Cop killer's father arrested

St. Petersburg, Florida -- The father of convicted cop killer, Nicholas Lindsey, was arrested Thursday night for allegedly selling drugs to an undercover officer.

St. Petersburg Police say they received a tip Nicholas Lindsey Sr. was selling drugs out of his home. In an undercover operation, police say Lindsey sold powder cocaine to the undercover officer in September and October.

Lindsey now faces numerous charges of possessing and selling cocaine and marijuana possession.

Police: Kittens found in man's freezer

St. Petersburg, Florida -- A man faces animal cruelty charges after four kittens were found inside sandwich bags in his freezer.

Pinellas County deputies say a woman visiting the home of Rodney Blanchard in the 7500 block of 46th Avenue North discovered the kittens when he asked her to get him a beer out of his freezer. The woman reportedly didn't notice the kittens at first, so he told her he had them in there. When she took a closer look she saw the kittens and tried to get them out, but Blanchard pushed her away and told her to leave.

Police search for man who burglarized St. Pete antique store

St. Petersburg, Florida -- Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County is looking for a man who broke into an antique center on Monday, Nov. 19 and stole cash and other items.

Pinellas County detectives say around 1 a.m., the man used bolt cutters to cut the wire gate around Park Street Antiques Center on Bay Pines Boulevard and then used them to smash the glass to get inside. Once he grabbed the cash and other property, he fled in a white, 4-door sedan driven by another unidentified white male.