Cops Corner: Sarasota

Feb. 13
TOOL TIME
12:15 p.m. — 1700 block of 12th Street.
Burglary — Vehicle/Vessel Unarmed: A municipal employee reported that a utility truck had been left unsecured over the weekend, and that an unknown suspect took several items from storage compartments within the vehicle. The suspect took a drill, a set of blades and drill bits, batteries and a battery charger. The total value of the missing items was estimated at $400.

Feb. 17
HIGH TENSION
11 a.m. — 1600 block of Ringling Boulevard.
Other Disorderly Conduct: An employee at a municipal building reported that a man was causing a disturbance in the lobby and refusing to leave. An officer contacted the man, who was upset because marijuana has not been legalized and wanted to discuss that topic with commissioners. After speaking with the officer, the man calmed down and left the area.

RETURNS, LEAVING
12:21 p.m. — 2700 block of Leon Avenue.
Civil Problem: A woman reported that a man had stolen her tax return money. She said she gave $2,700 to a man to put money down on an apartment, but he never actually followed through with the payment. The woman said she waited two weeks to report it because she thought he would give the money back, and that she had text messages implicating the man. In the messages, the man denied taking anything. The woman said she did not have any documentation regarding the exchange of money, and officers were unable to reach the man at his home.

STAKE OUT
3 p.m. — 2000 block of 10th Street.
Dispute/Fight: A man, who is in the process of getting a permit for his fence, reported that his neighbor pulled out stakes a surveyor was using. The neighbor denied touching the stakes. Officers said city code enforcement employees would check the permit to ensure the stakes were in the correct location.

LAYERED CLOTHES
6:03 p.m. — 3500 block of South Tamiami Trail.
Petit Theft — Shoplifting: A department store employee watched video surveillance that showed a man take four shirts off of the rack and into a dressing room. Another employee in the store said they heard the man taking the security tags off of the shirts, but was instructed not to intervene. The man then left the store with visible bulges along his waistline. The man left the security tags in the dressing room, but no shirts were inside. The employee believes the man is responsible for stealing the clothes, and provided officers with video of the incident.