Gainesville man arrested for burglarizing car in Heartwood neighborhood

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Silvestre Pablo Bruno, 22, was arrested last night and charged with burglary to an unoccupied vehicle and grand theft after allegedly taking a backpack from a car in the Heartwood neighborhood.

At about 8:10 p.m. on August 13, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the Heartwood neighborhood, where the owner of the backpack said he had seen Bruno walking in the street holding his backpack. He said he confronted Bruno and took back his belongings. Bruno reportedly tried to flee while bystanders called 911, but Bruno tripped in the yard and was detained by the victim until the officer arrived.

Post Miranda, Bruno reportedly admitted he had entered a driveway and opened a vehicle; he said he was “unaware” that he had taken a backpack but thought he had taken an ID and/or credit card from the vehicle. The officer reported that no cards were found or reported as stolen. Bruno reportedly said he had been drinking and didn’t know why he had taken items from the vehicle. He reportedly said he has a history of committing burglaries.

The officer noted that surveillance video showed Bruno holding the victim’s backpack as the victim confronted him. The backpack contained electronic equipment valued at about $2,000.

Bruno has a 2018 juvenile conviction for burglary and grand theft and a violation of probation in that case. He has one adult misdemeanor conviction (non-violent). Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $60,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.