Dumb Criminal Stories Continued

Here's one story from our recent event reports that makes you wonder just how smart (or dumb) criminals can be. The story goes something like this...

Our victim discovers his vehicle was burglarized late one night while he was inside a restaurant along Hwy 98 North in Lakeland. Among the items taken in the burglary were an I-Pod, a digital camera, and a cell phone charger. The victim calls the police to report the crime, and the responding officer dutifully takes the report listing all of the stolen items.

Approximately 30 - 45 minutes later (call it around 2:00 AM), the police get a call from a clerk at a convenience store just a few blocks away from the burglary scene. The clerk tells police a subject is inside the store trying to sell an I-Pod. The same officer responds to the store and makes contact with the suspect when he notices the subject is in possession of (you got it), an I-Pod, a digital camera, and a cell phone charger. But the story gets more interesting...

The victim happens to be at the same convenience store to vacuum the broken glass from his vehicle and walks into the store where he notices the officer and the I-Pod. Our victim identifies the articles as those just stolen from his truck. The suspect gets arrested and tries to proclaim that he did not steal the items but rather somebody in the area just gave them to him.

Moral to the story - never try to pawn stolen items within blocks of the crime scene and within moments of the theft. Add to the lessons to be learned here - never try to pawn stolen items at a convenience store after you have been trespassed from the store in the first place!

- Asst Chief Bill LePere