Cops Corner 07.01.10

June 17
Made in China
Midnight — 6500 block of Midnight Pass Road. Fraudulent Use of Credit Card. A woman reported that someone had obtained her credit-card number and used it for an unauthorized purchase. The unknown person made an Internet purchase from Changchun, China, in the amount of $404.55.

June 21
Onto Plan B
4 a.m. — 1900 block of Field Road. Petit Theft. The complainant said because there have been prowlers and several burglaries in his neighborhood, he installed a motion-detector light on his home. On the above date, he heard a noise outside and went to investigate. He discovered that someone stole the motion detector.

June 22
Gas problem
7:42 a.m. — 1800 block of Fruitville Road. Criminal Mischief. A restaurant owner noticed her gas line had been cut. She believes someone was searching for copper to steal. The restaurant did not have surveillance video, but the owner said she would be installing one soon.

Wardrobe malfunction
8:45 a.m. — 6400 block of South Tamiami Trail. Suspicious Person. A woman reported that while she was waiting at a bus stop, a stranger grabbed her breast. She said he then got on a bus headed for Siesta Key. A deputy checked with the bus driver, who said nobody fitting that description was on the bus. The deputy then began to interview the woman, and as they were talking, her top slid down and exposed her breast. The deputy told her she should wear better-fitting clothing.

Mother of the year
9:16 a.m. — 2700 block of Fruitville Road. Suspicion of Narcotics Possession. A pharmacist told police a customer watched a woman exchange drugs for money in his drug-store parking lot. The woman then placed the drugs in her 5-year-old son’s pocket.

Outgunned
Noon — 1600 block of Field Road. Burglary. A homeowner reported a burglary in which two handguns, two shotguns and a bank bag with $3,800 inside were all stolen. A neighbor said a landscaper’s truck was parked outside the home. One of the men in the truck walked up to three different homes, but he was at the burglarized home the longest. The neighbor said the man put something in the bed of the truck and drove away.

June 22
Dog-day afternoon
6:18 p.m. — 4000 block of South Tamiami Trail. Disturbance. About 35 protesters descended on a store that sells puppies. Employees told police the protesters were harassing customers and not allowing them to enter the store.

Match game
6:34 p.m. — 1900 block of South Lime Avenue. Suspicious Incident. A caller reported three young boys throwing matches into some bushes. No fire was started.

June 23
Snooze-free zone
Midnight — 1 block of Bayfront Drive. Trespassing. A police officer responded to a report of a disturbance at Bayfront Park. When he arrived, he ran into a homeless man, who told him that there was no disturbance. A second officer arrived and said she had encountered this same homeless man, who hangs out at the park and sleeps in his car. The first officer told the man that was considered illegal lodging within the city limits, and he was issued a trespassing warning.