Weird News: Man attempts to steal devices designed for home security – Palm Beach Post
Security measures: Possibly looking to beef up the security at his home, or just looking to steal an expensive product and resell it, a man selected two home security camera packages while inside a store in the 3200 block of Northlake Boulevard. For members only, the store employs greeters to check for membership cards at the entrance and has people at the exit to make sure receipts match what customers have in their carts. Though it’s possible he didn’t think it through, or maybe he just wasn’t that smart, the man attempted to push his cart out through the entrance without the three employees that were there noticing. They noticed. As they began following him, he abandoned the cart and the merchandise. They then watched him get into his vehicle and drive away. They were able to give police a detailed description of the perpetrator and his truck. The recovered merchandise was worth nearly $1,600. The store said they would prosecute if and when the man is caught.
Asleep at the wheel: While on patrol in a residential development named after an equestrian event, a security guard discovered a woman passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle. Approaching the still-running car, the guard made several attempts to wake the woman. He said she briefly regained consciousness and began pounding on the steering wheel before passing back out. He said she also appeared to have urinated just outside of the car. When police arrived, they too had difficulty waking the woman. Despite pounding on the glass and shining their flashlights in her face, she did not wake up until they opened the car door. Back in the world of the living, she was asked if she was OK. She said she was all right and declined medical assistance. Hiking her pants up, which were down around her legs, she then exited the vehicle. Though unsteady on her feet, hanging on to the car for support and smelling of an alcoholic beverage, she agreed to take part in a roadside sobriety test. She did poorly and was arrested for DUI. Her breath later showed she was more than double the legal limit.
Opioid overdoer: Driving along Northlake Boulevard with a friend, a man became alarmed when his passenger lost consciousness. Pulling over in the 4200 block of the road and calling for help, the man seemed to be prepared for such an event. Whether it was his lifestyle, his friend’s or both of theirs, the man had a dose of Narcan on him and administered it just before police arrived. The victim, who was slowly regaining consciousness, said he’d snorted some fentanyl before passing out. He was able to tell police the exact amount of the drug he used to nearly kill himself and handed over his remaining stash. He was transported to Gardens Medical Center.
Wired for speed: Shopping at a store in the 3800 block of Northlake Boulevard, a man loaded a spool of wire into his cart. He then pushed the cart out of the store without paying for the nearly $650 product. As he was leaving, he realized he’d been spotted by the store’s loss prevention associates and began running with the cart. After loading the merchandise into his car, he drove toward Northlake Boulevard and escaped. The entire incident was captured by the store’s surveillance cameras. That footage would be uploaded into police evidence.
Nailed it: Possibly trying to get into the manicuring business, a woman took her first step toward that goal when she stole an electric nail drill from a store on Northlake Boulevard. Taking it up a notch, the woman added a bit of flair by not stealing just an ordinary drill, but a pink one! The tool was worth approximately $100.
Auto entry: Parked outside his residence on Lakeside Drive, a man’s vehicle was illegally entered. The man said he had left the vehicle unlocked overnight and noticed it had been rummaged through the next morning. He said he reviewed his surveillance footage and it showed an SUV pull up just before 4 a.m. and an individual get out of the passenger side. The victim said the person then entered his vehicle. Nothing was stolen and the man did not wish to make a formal report.
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Pants purloiner: Shopping at a store in the 1800 block of West Lantana Road, a woman took an interest in a particular style of pants. Liking them so much, she selected multiple pairs. She then stuffed them into her purse. She did a bit more shopping and then headed to the checkout area where she proceeded to pay for several pieces of merchandise, but not the nearly $85 worth of trousers hidden inside her purse. She likely thought herself quite clever, thinking she would avert suspicious by paying for several items while “secretly” stealing those beloved pants. Her secret was actually out long before she went to check out, as one of the store’s loss prevention associates saw her putting the pants in her bag. As she walked out of the store, she was stopped, the pants were recovered and she was arrested. She was released with a notice to appear.
Direction-challenged: Alerted to a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lanes of North Dixie Highway, police were able to locate the motorist. Though now on East Lantana Road, an east/west street, the car was facing north and was stopped. Sweating profusely, extremely nervous and not paying attention to police, the motorist was asked for his identification. Slowly retrieving his wallet, he soon discovered his ID was not inside and said his girlfriend must have it. It took him some time to exit the vehicle after he was instructed to get out. Though he agreed take part in a roadside sobriety test, he could not/would not stop leaning against the car and did not comply. He was arrested for DUI. He stated that he was at a club with his girlfriend and had a few drinks, but did not feel as if he had done anything wrong. Besides threaten other drivers with a possible head-on collision.
Unwanted guest: Staying at a hotel in the 1200 block of Hypoluxo Road, a man became upset with one of his guests and called police. When they arrived, he informed them that the man was not welcome and that he had a warrant for his arrest. When the officer called for any occupants in the room to show themselves, the man, who had been hiding under the bed, emerged and met with police. A records check showed the man did have a warrant for his arrest for drug possession. He was arrested and taken to jail.
Going to pot: Trespassing outside a business in the 4500 block of Broadway, while simultaneously using one of their outdoor electrical outlets to charge his phone, a man was informed that it was time to move along. After detaining the man and getting his information, officers let him go with a warning. While he was collecting his belongings, police could easily see a clear, resealable pouch filled with a green, leafy substance. Later tested, the substance was just over 11 grams of marijuana. Arresting the man for drug possession, he blurted out “it’s just weed, it’s just smoke.” He was released with a notice to appear.
Reprobate roommate: After having lunch with her roommate at a restaurant in 1800 block of Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard, a woman decided she wanted to stay and have a few more drinks. Her roommate left and went home. Approximately four hours later, the roommate said he heard pounding on his bedroom door. Answering the door, he discovered the now intoxicated woman standing there, saying “you didn’t come pick me up (expletive)” before smacking him multiple times in the head. Running to the kitchen to get away from the wild woman, the roommate’s thrashing was not complete as the woman grabbed an onion and wound up for the pitch. Though intoxicated, her aim was true and she got him in the back of the head. While attempting to flee the residence, she was caught outside by deputies and placed under arrest.
Counting catastrophe: Following a vehicular incident in the 4600 block of Southeast Quail Trail, a man was investigated for possible DUI. With bloodshot eyes, breath that smelled of alcohol and slurred speech, he tried to tell one of the deputies that he hadn’t even been driving and that he’d walked to the area. Unfortunately, he had already jokingly said to another deputy that he probably should’ve driven his golf cart instead of his truck. Asked to take part in a roadside sobriety test, he said OK. Though none of the tasks went smoothly, there was an extra bumpy stretch when he was asked to count from 25 to 55. He made to 32 before things began going downhill. He then went with “36, 34, 35” before stopping and saying “you’re trying to trick me.” He was told no one was trying to trick him. He continued on and used his fingers to count. He was eventually arrested for DUI. He later refused to provide a breath sample.
Buds and bust: Driving into oncoming traffic and speeding, a motorist was pulled over … eventually. Though a deputy thought the vehicle had stopped at Southeast Dixie Highway and Southeast Bridge Road, as he approached, the vehicle turned west onto Southeast Bridge Road and continued on for another block. With glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, the driver explained he’d been at his girlfriend’s house and added he’d drank approximately four “Bud Lights.” He would later up that number to five and stated “no, thank God” when asked if he any conditions that would preclude him from taking part in a roadside sobriety test (other than not being sober). Having difficult following instructions and unable to properly touch his own nose, he was arrested for DUI. In addition to him being drunk, it was soon discovered that his license had expired in 2006.
Porch pilferer: Like a lion snatching baby wildebeest on the Serengeti plain, several packages delivered to a residence in the 5600 block of Azalea Circle proved easy targets for one man. Dropped off by a space-venturing delivery company and left in good faith, the packages were quickly stolen by the opportunistic thief. The caper was captured on a neighbor’s surveillance camera. The items were worth over $160.
Selfish son: Though supposedly on his way to rehab, a man instead stole his mother’s watch and vehicle from her home in the 16600 block of Hidden Cove Drive. Believing he was out on a bender, the woman didn’t notify law enforcement for several days. In the end she managed to briefly speak with her son who admitted pawning her expensive timepiece. She later discovered he was not admitted to rehab because of COVID and that her high-end German car was currently being driven by a drug dealer. The whereabouts of her son were unknown.
Compiled from area law enforcement records by Eddie Ritz.
