Local Lake Worth Beach business caught in the middle of prostitution sting

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — In the latest crackdown on sex crimes in Lake Worth Beach, nine people were arrested in an undercover prostitution sting.

‘Operation sizzle’ targeted the area around 18th Avenue North and North Dixie Highway. A local business was at the center of it all.

Vinny Davis, owner of Bob Davis Auto Repair, said it was a normal day when he opened his shop Friday until undercover cops started filling up his parking lot.

“They don’t let us know, they just show up in unmarked cars,” said Davis.

One guy after another was soliciting an undercover cop for sex and getting themselves an overnight stay in jail, shared Davis. In total, nine men were arrested.

“The undercover girls were in the van, and I’m sure with a couple cops as well,” said Davis as he described the scene to CBS12 News.

“The right words were in exchange, or she would walk away, and then eight cop cars would be on the guy,” said Davis.

Davis, who has owned his auto repair shop for 20 years, told CBS12 News he’s happy to see somebody doing something to clean up the neighborhood.

“The alleyways are the biggest thing. If your business has an alleyway behind it, then that’s probably where they’re going to be walking around,” said Davis.

The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) set up this sting after locals complained. They want you to know if there’s something sketchy going on where you live, they want to hear about it.

PBSO's non-emergency number is (561) 688-3000, or report it online here. Click here for a full list of PBSO's community phone numbers.