Four men charged in car burglaries at USF game

TAMPA -- Four young men, two identified as University of Tampa students, were arrested Thursday night during the USF game in connection with several car burglaries in the parking lot, according to arrest affidavits from the Hillsborough County Jail.

About 9:30 p.m., police responded to reports of several people casing cars in Raymond James Stadium's Lot 14. They found four men: William Wise, 20, No. 703 2901 Dale Mabry Highway; Matthew Falzo, 19, No. 1437 401 W Kennedy; Eric Gross, 20, 401 No. 1644 W Kennedy; and Benjamin Howley, 20, No. 1006 2901 Dale Mabry Highway.

Police said Howley and Gross broke into a 2008 two-door Honda and a 2001 four-door Buick parked in Lot 14. About $200 worth of items were taken from the Honda and $450 from the Buick, and about $300 in damage was done to the Buick's interior console, according to the arrest affidavit. Howley was reportedly found in possession of some of the stolen property, including an iPod and cash. They were confronted by police for underage drinking, and Gross admitted to breaking into at least three cars with Howley, according to reports.

Wise and Falzo were also reportedly found in the parking lot with a black UT backpack full of stolen electronics and Suboxone pills -- a medication meant to wean people off opioid dependence, police said. Both admitted to burglaries after police apprehended them for underage drinking, according to reports.

Gross and Falzo told police they are UT students. Howley said he works for OAS Advertising, and Wise said he was unemployed, according to reports.

Gross and Howley were each charged with two counts of car burglary, one count of grand theft and one count of petty theft. Falzo was charged with possession of a narcotic, three counts of car burglary, two counts of grand theft and two counts of petty theft. Wise was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage alcohol possession, three counts of car burglary, two counts of grand theft and two counts of petty theft. They were all taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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