Three Ocala men were recently arrested for their alleged involvement in a vehicle burglary spree in Marion County that included over three dozen vehicles and spanned nearly two months.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, more than 40 vehicle burglaries were targeted by the suspects – 45-year-old Warren Joseph Cavagnaro, 58-year-old Michael David Madigan, and 42-year-old Kyle William Thompson – in Dunnellon, as well as in the west and northwest sections of the county.
On Thursday, April 18, MCSO detectives conducted a surveillance operation in the areas where the vehicle burglaries had occurred. During this operation, they were notified that four vehicles located in the 8000 block of NW 121st Avenue were being burglarized, according to the sheriff’s office.
The MCSO aviation unit responded to the area and located one of the suspects, Cavagnaro, who was walking nearby. A detective made contact with Cavagnaro, and he allegedly dropped a clear bag onto the ground that contained cocaine.
The sheriff’s office stated that Cavagnaro was questioned about the recent burglaries. He initially denied any involvement and claimed that he was “just going for a walk.”
A second suspect, Madigan, was soon located nearby. According to MCSO, Madigan admitted to driving Cavagnaro and the third suspect, Thompson, to the area to break into vehicles.
While speaking with an MCSO detective, Cavagnaro eventually admitted to “breaking into multiple vehicles every night for the past two months.” The sheriff’s office stated that Cavagnaro also provided details about the burglary cases, including the theft of eight firearms out of unlocked vehicles, and he mentioned that Thompson was with him for most of the burglaries.
Cavagnaro told the detective that he would “hop past” locked vehicles, only burglarizing the unlocked ones.
In addition, Cavagnaro admitted to committing an additional 10 vehicle burglaries in On Top of the World on March 20. During those burglaries, he advised that he stole a firearm and a victim’s Toyota SUV because he “needed a ride home.”
Cavagnaro and Madigan were both arrested and transported to Marion County Jail on Thursday, April 18. Cavagnaro is currently being held without bond, and Madigan is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Thompson, a registered sex offender, was located by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday, April 24. During an interview with a detective, Thompson admitted to his involvement in the burglaries. He was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
According to jail records, Cavagnaro is being charged with 12 counts of burglary of a conveyance, 12 counts of theft, four counts of armed burglary of a conveyance, two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and one count each of grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of cocaine.
Thompson and Madigan are both being charged with four counts of burglary of a conveyance. In addition, Thompson is being charged with three counts of petit theft.
On Tuesday, May 21, Cavagnaro and Madigan are both scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. A court date has not been scheduled yet for Thompson.
In a media release, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated that detectives are still investigating multiple burglaries that have allegedly been committed throughout western Marion County by Cavagnaro, Thompson, and Madigan.
According to MCSO, additional charges against the three suspects are “forthcoming.”