The Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested 40 people after a two-day operation to put unlicensed contractors behind bars, authorities said.
The unlicensed contractor operation arrested the offenders for failing to have a certificate of competency, which is required for contracting.
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The unsuspecting offenders were called by the Broward County license division, whose members posed as homeowners requesting help with home improvement. The suspects, who believed they arrived at the rigged house to discuss a work offer, were arrested.
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“Both of you do not have a license,” said an officer in the sting operation. “We have already done our research, we know you don’t.”
The BSO has conducted 14 similar operations in the last three years, resulting in 240 arrests. About 60 percent of those apprehended were felons, with prior crimes ranging from burglaries to homicides, Det. Danny Belyeu told NBC 6. Most of the unlicensed contractors also had previous encounters with the licensing division, earning them a new felony charge.
