Cops Corner

June 28
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t
6:11 p.m. — 3400 block of Queens Street. Criminal Mischief. A man had his mother’s car parked at his apartment complex overnight. As he was driving the car to his mother’s hose the next morning, he noticed something felt wrong. He checked the wheels and noticed that someone had removed all the lug nuts from one of the rear wheels, which caused significant damage to the wheel.

At least he’s being honest
7:30 p.m. — Midnight Pass Road and Siesta Key Circle. Driving with a Suspended License. A sheriff’s deputy noticed a car driving erratically, swerving in and out of a single lane several times. He pulled the driver over, and the man behind the wheel told him: “I’m in trouble. I don’t have a license. I am suspended.” The driver’s license was indeed suspended, and he was taken to jail.

June 29
Now showing ‘Backdraft’
2:45 p.m. — 8200 block of South Tamiami Trail. Arson. A fire broke out in a bathroom stall in a movie theater restroom. The theater manager said the flames nearly rose above the stall walls, but the fire was quickly extinguished before the fire department arrived. It appeared someone intentionally ignited a metal receptacle that held several rolls of toilet paper and paper towels.

Welcome to Sarasota
11 p.m. — 600 block of Avenida de Mayo. Burglary. A family visiting from Pennsylvania had a stack of cash stolen from a kitchen table. Someone quietly opened a sliding glass door and grabbed $2,700 in $100 bills on the table. A laptop computer and other valuables sitting on the same table were not disturbed. The victims were sleeping when the crime occurred.

Worst pickup line ever
2 p.m. — 8200 block of South Tamiami Trail. Suspicious Person. A middle–aged man buying a necklace at a novelty shop in the mall disturbed three female employees enough that they called security. After one employee rang up his purchase, she told the man to have a nice day. His response: “Everyone should die.” He then told the employees that they should burn the place down and said he would burn it down. He then said he was going to the North Trail to pick up prostitutes. As he walked out of the store, he pointed at a group of teenage girls and gave them the finger. The man got on a bus and left.

June 30
Everyone’s a suspect
12:20 p.m. — 2900 block of Poplar Street. Theft. A woman reported that a week ago she held an all-day barbeque for family and friends. Sometime during that event, a laptop computer, videogame system and other items went missing. She said she delayed reporting the incident, because she hoped the thief would return the items. Because only family and friends were there, the woman could not think of a prime suspect.

Inside job
3:09 p.m. — 3500 block of South Tamiami Trail. Theft. A department-store manager was caught stealing money from the store. He allegedly created a false employee number to enter into the computer. He would use that number to make a purchase. He would then return the purchase and pocket the cash. Police say the manager had been doing that since March. Store officials believed he stole $3,800, but an officer said after interviewing the manager that he believes more money was stolen.