KISSIMMEE, FL — A 17-year-old Kissimmee girl has been arrested following a months-long investigation into a series of vehicle burglaries in the Poinciana area that targeted unlocked vehicles and resulted in the theft of personal property, bank cards, laptops, and sensitive personal information.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the burglaries occurred between April and July 2026 within neighborhoods located about a mile apart. The first incidents were reported on April 19 on Redfin Drive, where multiple vehicles at the same residence were entered. Detectives said the suspect stole key fobs, wallets, Social Security cards, debit and credit cards, and other personal items before attempting to use some of the stolen bank cards for fraudulent purchases.
Additional burglaries were reported on May 17 on Redfin Drive, June 15 on Pilchard Court, and July 24 on Sail Court. Among the stolen items were laptops, luggage, purses, driver’s licenses, and other valuables.
Through surveillance video and investigative work, detectives identified the suspect as 17-year-old Nichele Pierce of Kissimmee. A search warrant executed at her Tench Court residence led detectives to clothing matching that seen in surveillance footage, along with a dog matching one observed accompanying the suspect during one of the burglaries.
Investigators also recovered numerous items containing personally identifiable information, including Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and debit and credit cards belonging to multiple victims.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Pierce admitted to committing all of the burglaries and attempting to fraudulently use the stolen debit and credit cards.
Pierce was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. She faces charges including eight counts of unoccupied burglary, grand theft, four counts of petit theft, three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, unlawful possession of personal identification information, theft of a credit card, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and four counts of loitering.
Sheriff Grady Judd urged residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuables inside.
“Locking your car takes one second, but it can take months or years to get your identity back if it’s stolen,” Judd said. “Lock it, or lose it.”
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
