Cops Corner

April 12
Keys to the case
2 p.m. — 100 block of South Gulfstream Avenue. Car Theft. A man told police he parked his car on Gulfstream Avenue and decided to spend the night in it. He left the car parked in that same spot the next day. When he returned to retrieve it, the car was gone. The man did not report the theft for two days, because he said he was searching for the car on his own. At least police know how the car was stolen: The man left the car unlocked with the keys inside.

Count on me
10:15 p.m. — 8200 block of South Tamiami Trail. Petit Theft. The manager of an Italian restaurant left an employee in charge of closing the store, which includes the responsibilities of counting the day’s receipts and dropping a money bag at the bank. The manager said there was a discrepancy of $150 when he compared the deposit slip to the receipts. The manager told a sheriff’s deputy this was the second time this same employee had been short on her money count.

Trench warfare
3:10 p.m. — 2400 block of Ringling Boulevard. Civil Problem. Two neighbors have been involved in an ongoing feud. The latest incident occurred when neighbor No. 1 began digging a drainage ditch. Neighbor No. 2 said the digging was being done on his side of the property line, and if the digging didn’t stop, he may be “forced” to punch neighbor No. 1. Neighbor No. 2 wanted the officer to stop the digging, but the officer tried to explain that it was a civil matter, not a criminal one. But the officer said neighbor No. 2 did not want to listen and that he kept interrupting.

Gauze and effect
10 p.m. — 1700 South Tamiami Trail. Petit Theft. An emergency-room patient was sharing a room with two other patients. She was in the middle bed. A visitor of one of the other patients saw middle-bed woman take some hospital items and place them in her bag. An officer responded and asked middle-bed woman why she took things that did not belong to her. She told the officer that she thought they were free for the taking. The items were in small bins and were used by nurses to treat patients.

April 13
Dress for success
12:45 p.m. — 3500 block South Tamiami Trail. Grand Theft. A department-store security guard watched a woman reach behind a store kiosk and grab one of the store’s bags. She then proceeded to browse through the store and place several dresses into the bag. The guard stopped her after she walked out the door without paying for the clothes. The dresses were worth $468.

Divine intervention
3:40 p.m. — 1700 block of Morrill Street. Dispute. Two men were arguing so vigorously about religion that someone called police. The two men told the officer that they could solve the dispute without further police involvement.

April 14
Clean break
12:38 a.m. — 500 block of North Jefferson Avenue. Suspicious Person. The caller reported that a man was showering in an apartment complex's pool area. The man’s clothing was piled on the ground near the shower.