COPS CORNER: East County

Aug. 6
Tire touch-up
8:45 a.m. — 700 block of 60th Street Court E. Information. The complainant reported that some time between noon and 5 p.m. Aug. 6, the parking lot was painted. Some paint wound up on the tire of her vehicle. The complainant wanted the incident recorded.

Staying connected
11:16 a.m. — 5300 block Tide Point Way. Identity Theft. Unknown persons opened a Verizon Wireless account with five cell phones by using the victim’s personal identification information. The victim did not give permission for the account opening.

Aug. 7
Precautionary practice
12:40 a.m. — 4900 block of 26th Avenue E. Information Only. A man engaged in a financial contract with a woman. The contract said he would rent her home. The homeowner obtained personal information from the man and his wife. The transaction eventually fell through, and the woman returned the man’s money. The man called the sheriff’s office, because he feels the homeowner might commit fraud using his personal information. No crime has been committed.

Motor speed AWAY
3 a.m. — 6300 block of Robin Cove. Theft. Several vehicle burglaries were reported in the Greenbrook area of Lakewood Ranch. Unknown person(s) entered several unlocked vehicles and removed items. At the time deputies discovered the burglaries, deputies saw a motorcycle depart the scene at a high rate of speed. Deputies believe the motorcyclist may have been responsible for the burglaries.

Seconds time’s the charm
11:03 a.m. — 5000 block of Ranch Lake Boulevard. Theft. A department store staff member saw suspects remove several items, valued at $806.67, from the cosmetic and garden sections. The suspects then passed all points of sale without paying. The suspects then went to a different department store, of the same name, in Sarasota County, where they attempted to steal more items. There, the suspects were arrested.

Matchmaker 
11:03 a.m. — 5000 block of Ranch Lake Boulevard. Theft. Department store staff reported a person brought an old receipt inside the store and tried to match grocery items to the receipt. The person then brought the food items to the customer-service desk and attempted to return them. When staff recognized what the person was doing, the suspect took the food items, valued at $47.42, and left without paying.

Dollars and scents
11:04 a.m. — 5000 block of Ranch Lake Boulevard. Theft. Unknown person(s) removed several bottles of perfume and cologne, valued at $368, from the shelves of a department store. They concealed the items inside their backpack and purse, before exiting the store without paying for them.

In a jam
11:03 p.m. — 6000 block of 111th St. E. Open Door/Window. While responding to an alarm call, the deputy observed the front door open about 3 inches and the door lock in a partially locked position. There were no signs of forced entry. The building was cleared, and the deputy did not observe signs of disturbance. The alarm company was contacted, so the key holder could come secure the building. The key holder came, reviewed video and determined the cleaning crew did not secure the building properly.

Aug. 8
Impermanent statue
9:03 a.m. — 7900 block of Broadmoor Pines Boulevard. Property Damage. Unknown person(s) damaged a statue that was standing outside the victim’s home. The victim discovered the statue tipped over onto a walkway next to the garage. It broke in half.

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