Cops Corner: East County

Jan. 28
The ol’ switcheroo
8:11 a.m. — 16600 block of Waterline Road. Information. The complainant purchased a vehicle from an acquaintance in November 2011. The car wasn’t running and required engine work. About a month ago, the complainant had a person named Bruce take the car to his shop in Wauchula to put in a new engine. After a few weeks, Bruce released the vehicle to the suspect, who has been a longtime friend of the complainant. The complainant attempted to get the car back; however, the suspect isn’t accepting her calls. Currently the car is still showing registered to the acquaintance that sold the car to the complainant.

Exchange policy
9 a.m. — 5300 block of Lockwood Ridge Road. Suspicious incidents. The suspect reportedly entered the store and wanted to buy four $500 Visa gift cards using two $1,000 American Express gift cards. The complainant stated she told him she would only do two $500 gift cards and not four. The suspect stated he gets the gift cards from work, but he exchanges them, because you can use the Visa cards at more places. The suspect showed a Florida driver’s license that matched his identity. The complainant just thought this was suspicious even though the transaction went through without a problem. The complainant called the next closest CVS to make the manager aware of what happened. The manager stated the suspect had just left and done the same thing, exchanging one $1,000 American Express gift card for two $500 Visa gift cards. The clerk who helped him also obtained his driver’s license and wrote down the suspect’s name. He also stated the suspect kept the American Express gift card with the last four digits 3300. Both managers later learned it’s against CVS policy to allow the purchase of a gift card using other gift cards. A DVD of still pictures and the card that was used at the first location were both placed in property and evidence should this not be legitimate and turn into a fraud case.

Freaky finding
8:43 a.m. — 12200 block of Hollybush Terrace. Suspicious circumstance. At about 9:45 p.m. Jan. 27, the complainant saw a light flash by the front window of his residence. The next morning, he found a large blade kitchen knife in his flowerbed outside his front door. The complainant advised when he found the knife there was no morning dew on it. The knife was placed into property and evidence for safekeeping.

Jan. 30
Not welcome here
10:30 p.m. — 3300 block of 53rd Avenue East. Trespass warning. The complainant, who is the manager of the Circle K, issued the suspect a trespass warning in the responding deputy’s presence. The suspect was advised if he returns to the location in the future, he would be placed under arrest for trespassing. A wants and warrants check for the suspect came back with negative results.