Valrico Area Safety Report: March 23-28, 2026

Your weekly safety roundup covering the Valrico, Brandon, and Bloomingdale area. Information sourced from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), Hillsborough County government, and local news outlets.

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Notable Incidents

Riverview Construction Zone Crime Concerns With ongoing road closures on S. Kings Avenue and Boyette Road, local businesses have reported decreased foot traffic and increased concern about property security in affected corridors. HCSO has been monitoring construction zones for any uptick in opportunistic crime. No major incidents reported this week, but residents and business owners near active work zones should remain vigilant.

Vehicle Break-In Reminders HCSO continues its "Lock Your Car" campaign across Hillsborough County. The message is simple: most vehicle burglaries in Valrico and Bloomingdale happen to unlocked cars. Lock your doors, take your keys, hide your valuables — or better yet, bring them inside. If you see someone checking car door handles in your neighborhood, call (813) 247-8200 immediately.

March Crime Recap March 2026 saw one homicide in the Brandon area (Lake Chapman Drive, March 9), the dismantling of a luxury vehicle theft ring operating out of Riverview, and continued property crime typical for the region. Overall, Valrico remains one of the safest communities in Hillsborough County with crime rates well below state and national averages.

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Traffic Updates

Boyette Road — Back to Standard Hours After running 24/7 during spring break week, construction on Boyette Road returned to standard daytime work hours this week. One lane remains open in each direction between Pure Pebble Drive and Wickerwood Drive during active construction. Expect delays during peak commute times.

South Kings Avenue — Closure Continues S. Kings Avenue between Center Avenue and Bloomingdale Avenue remains closed to through traffic. The closure is part of Tampa Bay Water's $505 million, 26.5-mile South Hillsborough Pipeline project. No reopening date has been announced.

Alternate Routes:

• North-south travel: John Moore Road or Providence Road
• Avoiding Boyette Road: Lithia Pinecrest Road or Bell Shoals Road

Upcoming Pipeline Disruptions Open-cut trenching is underway, and tunneling operations are planned in the coming months under:

• Falkenburg Road
• SR 60 (Brandon Boulevard)
• Alafia River
• Boyette Road
• Balm Boyette Road

Stay current on closures at SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com/detours-alerts.

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Public Safety Advisories

Emergency Burn Ban — Week 11 The burn ban continues with no end in sight. Dry conditions persist across Hillsborough County and the broader Tampa Bay region. As temperatures climb into the 80s, fire risk increases. Report any brush fire or smoke immediately by calling 911.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions — Still in Effect Tampa Bay Water's once-a-week watering restriction continues under Stage 3 Extreme Regional Supply Shortage conditions. No easing of restrictions has been announced. Drought conditions are expected to persist into April and potentially beyond.

Large Gathering Safety — No Kings Rally A No Kings Rally took place Saturday, March 28, at Lumsden Road and Brandon Parkway in Brandon. The event was one of more than 3,300 nationwide protests. If you encountered traffic delays in the Brandon area Saturday afternoon, this was the reason. HCSO maintained a presence to ensure public safety during the gathering.

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Monthly Safety Snapshot — March 2026

| Category | Status | |---|---| | Violent crime | Below average for the area; one homicide (Brandon) | | Property crime | Ongoing vehicle theft concerns; chop shop dismantled | | Traffic | Major disruptions from pipeline project on S. Kings and Boyette | | Fire risk | Extreme — burn ban week 11, drought conditions | | Water | Stage 3 restrictions — once-a-week watering |

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Important Numbers

• Emergency: 911
• HCSO Non-Emergency: (813) 247-8200
• HCSO Online Reporting: teamhcso.com
• Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay: 1-800-873-8477 (anonymous tips)
• Hillsborough County Fire Rescue: (813) 272-6600
• Tampa Bay Water (watering schedule): tampabaywater.org
• South Hillsborough Pipeline Updates: SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com
• HCFL Alert: HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert

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See Something, Say Something

If you witness suspicious activity in the Valrico, Bloomingdale, or Brandon area, contact HCSO at (813) 247-8200 for non-emergencies or call 911 for emergencies. You can also submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477.