Cops Corner: East County

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Reported April 4
Sounds fishy
12:51 p.m. — 8400 block of Gardens Circle. Scheme to defraud. The victim reported an unknown individual(s) allegedly asked her to send him cash for the property she planned on leasing. The person who represented himself as a lessor has collected the payment but hasn’t made arrangements to provide the victim with the opportunity to view the interior of the property.

April 14
No long-term plan required
3:30 p.m. — 2830 block of University Parkway. Grand theft. The complainant reported an unknown white male entered the cellular phone store and stole an item while the complainant was distracted. The item that was stolen was displayed in the open on the counter when the suspect placed it in his pocket and exited the store without making payment. The suspect then fled on foot in an unknown direction. The value of the stolen item is $649.99.

Reported April 14
License to steal
4 p.m. — 6100 block of 55th Avenue Circle East. Petit theft from vehicle. The victim reported his vehicle tag had been stolen. He stated he noticed his vehicle tag was missing and he doesn’t know where it went. The victim said the tag was on the vehicle the night before. The victim didn’t see anyone take the tag, but stated it was secured with at least three screws holding it on.

April 15
Who dunnit?
3 p.m. — 3500 block of 29th Street East. Suspicious circumstances. According to the complainant, the residence has been vacant for several years following the death of the owner. On April 15, the complainant noticed a screen covering the window on the rear of the house lying on the ground and the rear door to the house standing partially open. Concerned it may have been burglarized, he contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, the responding deputy began the process of tracking down the home’s owner. The deputy discovered via the property appraiser’s website that the point contact for the residence is a real estate attorney in Bradenton. The deputy contacted the attorney’s office and learned the home is part of an estate and the family involved lives in New York.

APRIL 14
BUSTED!
7:25 p.m. — 7300 block of 52nd Place East. Petty grand theft: shoplifting. Two female suspects placed clothing into bags as they walked through the store. Both individuals then placed all of the items into the baby stroller and walked out of the front of the store, passing all points of sale and failing to pay for the items in the stroller. The total value of the stolen items is $298.21. The complainant, a loss-prevention officer for the store, approached the females just outside of the store, but both ran when he identified himself as security. The unknown black female was obviously pregnant, so he didn’t chase her per company policy. He did chase the other female, but she was able to get into a vehicle with the unknown black female before he caught up with her. The females then left the area before the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived. During the time the complainant was chasing one of the suspects, she had dropped her handbag with her identification in it. The complainant advised he was positive it was the same female he was chasing. The females also left the stroller in the parking lot, as he was chasing them. All of the items left behind by the females have been placed into property and evidence for trial.