- February 3, 2025
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Jeremy McDade is facing over 20 burglary and theft charges in Volusia County. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey speaks during a press conference on Friday, May 31. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
OBPD Detective Tom Garcia and Sgt. Tom Larsen speak during a press conference on Friday, May 31. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Seven firearms were recovered during a search warrant stemming from Jeremy McDade's arrest. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police have arrested a 32-year-old Jacksonville man responsible for a recent string of unlocked car burglaries in town, and his arrest led to the recovery of seven stolen firearms.
Jeremy McDade was taken into police custody on Tuesday, May 28, after Detective Tom Garcia spotted McDade's vehicle parked outside of the Sleep Inn at 170 Williamson Blvd. McDade had been captured on security footage, some of which dated back to May 19, burglarizing cars throughout several neighborhoods, including Hidden Hills, Kings Crossing, Tymber Creek and Chelsea Place, where his car was identified by a patrol officer.
Sgt. Tom Larsen said at press conference on Friday, May 31, that McDade would drive to a subdivision, park his vehicle, and go through the neighborhood checking for unlocked vehicles either on foot or on a skateboard. He would use his shirt to open car doors to prevent leaving behind fingerprints, according to police.
Garcia said that McDade has been addicted to fentanyl for 10 years, and he traded the stolen items for narcotics.
“This is the damage that one person can do with unlocked vehicles," Larsen said.
Aside from the guns, the recovered items from the agency's search warrants of McDade's hotel room and car include numerous gift cards, credit cards, tools and laptops. It's one of the largest haul of items OBPD has recovered at one time, Larsen said.
“Almost all of this wouldn’t be here, if these cars were locked," Larsen said.
McDade is currently facing over 20 burglary and theft charges, eight of which come from OBPD. According an of arrest affidavits, McDade admitted in a post-Miranda interview with Garcia to burglarizing numerous vehicles in the Ormond Beach area. OBPD believes the items recovered could have originated from as north as Duval County to the south Volusia County area.
Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said that McDade's arrest is a result of new home surveillance camera technology and police work. He stressed the importance of citizens locking their vehicles, issuing a reminder about OBPD's 9 p.m. routine campaign, which is broadcasted through agency's Facebook page in hopes citizens lock their vehicles before going to sleep.
“I’m very proud of the men and women who put in a lot of hours in this investigation," Godfrey said.
