Florida Man Arrested for Grand Theft Auto, Other Crimes

Many people get in trouble with the law multiple times. They just can’t stay out of jail. It’s their lifestyle.

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested a Lakeland man who was on a theft crime spree. The 50-year-old man, who has an extensive criminal history, was arrested for grand theft of a motor vehicle and other crimes.

In February 2025, he was arrested for drug charges. He bonded out of jail and is now back behind bars for theft crimes. His most recent arrest in April marks a total of 21 bookings in the Polk County Jail.

Detectives investigated the man in early April when they received a report of a theft of tools from a construction site in Winter Haven. The construction crew was working at Simmers Young Park. They had locked up their tools in an enclosed utility trailer, but when they returned to work, a generator and several Milwaukee brand power tools were missing.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also received a report that a Ford Bronco was stolen from a Shell gas station in Auburndale. The owner left the Bronco locked and parked at the gas station after it broke down. The next day, two men showed up at the scene and towed it with a pickup truck.

The pickup truck was identified as a Ford Ranger registered to a Winter Haven man. Detectives interviewed the owner, who told them he had recently sold the truck. He gave police the new owner’s contact information, and it happened to be the suspect in question.

Detectives arrived at the man’s home and found the Ford Ranger as well as the stolen Bronco. The detective also noted there was a Predator 5000 generator on the porch, which matched the description of the one stolen along with the power tools. While the victim of the theft positively identified the generator, the suspect denied stealing it, claiming he was in the hospital at the time. Detectives were able to refute his claim.

The man was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. He was charged with two counts of burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft, and operating an unpermitted landfill. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the man has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for theft, burglary, and handling stolen property.

 Contact Us Today 

Almost all crimes have an effect on victims and communities as a whole. Being convicted of multiple crimes can cause someone to be in jail or prison for a long time. Plus, repeat offenders may face enhanced penalties.

Theft charges can be serious, but having a Fort Myers theft attorney from Hollander & Hanuka on your side can make all the difference. We will develop a strong defense strategy tailored to your unique circumstances. To schedule a consultation with our office, call (239) 332-3300.

Source:

westorlandonews.com/central-florida-man-with-extensive-criminal-history-arrested-for-grand-theft-other-crimes/