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Hernando sheriff: Woman arrested after stealing delivery driver's car with 3-year-old inside

The 3-year-old was reunited with their caregiver, and everyone was deemed safe.

HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A woman was arrested Saturday after she stole a delivery driver's car with a child inside, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis explains in a Facebook post.

Just after 10 a.m., the delivery driver was making a delivery in a neighborhood off of Ashland Drive, near Spring Hill Drive, when they were forcibly thrown to the grown by a woman, now identified as 41-year-old Breanne Lucey. 

According to the sheriff, Lucey stole the car and drove away with a 3-year-old inside.

Nineteen minutes later, a deputy with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office saw the car at U.S. 19 and Cortez Boulevard by Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The 41-year-old was reportedly driving westbound on Cortez Boulevard toward the beach.

The deputy followed the car while also requesting additional help – and luckily, the sheriff's office marine unit was in the area getting ready to put a boat in the water, Nienhuis said.

As the car drove southbound on Shoreline Boulevard, law enforcement was able to create a traffic jam to stop the driver, the sheriff explained. Lucey was then arrested.

The 3-year-old was reunited with their caregiver, and everyone was deemed safe.

“We don’t believe the delivery driver was asked to come there by the suspect, we think it was a crime of opportunity,” Neinhuis said. “But we’ll have more information as it becomes available.”

On Saturday, Lucey's charges included kidnapping a minor, carjacking, and fleeing from police, according to the booking information.

Lucey has previously faced several arrests primarily for trespassing and also served time for resisting an officer with violence. 

Credit: Hernando County Sheriff's Office
Breanne Lucey

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