Weird News: Woman's crime involved high speed, 'careful planning' – Palm Beach Post
Grab and go: After entering a store in the 1800 block of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, a woman got busy loading several bags with merchandise. After the loading phase was complete, she entered the next phase of her plan. Phase 2 was apparently the “walk out without paying” phase. Checking that phase off her list, she quickly began and completed phase 3, the “hop in a waiting car and race away” phase. In total, the woman began and completed all three phases in under five minutes and managed to steal $600 worth of merchandise in the process. It was all captured by surveillance cameras.
Grab and go, V. 2: Described as wearing a black jacket that was left open in front, a man entered a store in the 1700 block of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. Likely thinking himself quite cool with his black jacket, and maybe even “Fonzie-like,” he headed over to the electronics department. Once there he did something extremely not cool and definitely “un-Fonzie,” as he cut the security devices off two pairs of headphones and walked out of the store without paying for the over $500 worth of electronics. Though there were surveillance cameras inside the store and they captured the actual act of stealing, the man, possibly aware of the camera’s locations, kept his head down and face obscured when he passed them. There was no indication that he gave a thumbs up while exclaiming “aaaayyy” as he left.
Rolling pharmacy: Traveling along Broadway Avenue with extremely dark tint, a vehicle was pulled over in the 3300 block. While interacting with the driver, the officer was hit was the strong stench of freshly burnt marijuana. He quickly learned the source of the smell as the driver and her passenger said they’d been smoking the illicit weed. Informing the officer that she did not have a driver’s license, the driver and her passenger were asked to step out of the vehicle. In addition to driving at night, without a license and while smoking marijuana, a bottle of pain medication, for which she had no prescription, was found in the vehicle. On top of that, several small bags of cocaine were located inside her purse. When asked about the cocaine, she said she didn’t want to talk about it. She was arrested for drug possession and driving on a suspended license.
Standing sipper: Enjoying a “cold one” while standing in the 1100 block of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, a man likely knew he was violating the law. This was made clear when he attempted to shield the view of his beer from police as they approached. Though the man still had approximately three quarters of his 16-ounce “tall boy” left, he complied with police and poured the remaining liquid on the ground. In addition to his violating the open container law, a crack pipe, complete with metal mesh inside, was found in his backpack. He was placed under arrest.
Pile of pot: Stopped at the intersection of Okeechobee Boulevard and Rosemary Avenue, a motorist was found slumped over the wheel of his car. When officers arrived, they managed to wake the man by knocking on his window. Coming back to the world, the man rolled down his window and began his ‘meet and greet’ with police. In the process, officers could see clearly into the vehicle and noticed a blue tray with suspected marijuana sitting on it in plain sight. Detained outside the car pending further investigation, the man asked to retrieve his identification from the passenger seat. He was granted permission. Not exactly a master criminal, when he opened the passenger side door, two large clear bags stuffed full of marijuana were in plain view. Entering into the world of “Scareface/Tony Montana,” the man’s extremely large stash weighed in at a hefty half a kilogram. He told police that he’d purchased the illicit weed in Chicago, but claimed it was for personal use only. Though maybe he just really, really liked getting high, every single day, and was buying in bulk to save money, police didn’t believe his “personal use only” story. He was arrested for marijuana possession with intent to sell.
Brawling bunch: Creating a disturbance at an establishment in the 100 block of Datura Street, a man and his friends were escorted off the property by the business’ security staff. In the process, however, the man managed to break containment and went after the manager, punching him in the face. A melee then broke out with the fight stretching into the street and eventually around the marked police vehicle that had just arrived on scene. Stepping out of the vehicle into the large group of fighting individuals, the officer readied his TASER. The man who apparently had started the melee, decided (unwisely) to target the officer. He was tased and dropped to the ground where he was placed in handcuffs. He was positively identified by the manager, who he had punched, and arrested for battery.
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Auto attacker: Though it was unclear just exactly what the catalyst was for the angry outburst, a man used a metal pipe to repeatedly bash another man’s car near the intersection of 45th Street and Australian Avenue. The story had an interesting twist in that the “basher” and “bashee” were actually father and son. Though the father may or may not have shown restraint (the world may never know), the son showed a bit when he declined to pursue charges against dear old dad.
Smartwatch swiper: Hanging out at the beach near the 6500 block of Peanut Island Road, a man removed his watch and placed it his beach bag before going for a swim. Not checking on the watch until he returned home, he realized that someone had gone into his bag and stolen the watch. Though likely somewhere between despondent and angry, the man notified deputies that the $1,100 smart watch had been stolen. Utilizing the manufacturers’ IT, the watch was tracked to a neighborhood in suburban West Palm Beach. The man was coordinating with deputies to meet at the location and have the watch make a sound and then retrieve it from the thief.
Porch pirate: After seeing a package delivered to her home in the 11600 block of 54th Street North, a woman watched as minutes later an unknown man jumped the fence and took the package. Though he got into his car and began racing away, she went into hot pursuit and raced after him. She eventually lost him without getting his license plate number. She was able to describe the man and his vehicle to deputies as well as provide them footage from her own home surveillance system.
Auto abduction?: Responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle, deputies headed toward a development in the 16000 block of Lyons Road. As they were nearing the area, a car matching the description of the suspect vehicle was spotted. They ran the license plate and discovered that the car was stolen. After a turn or two, the vehicle’s driver and occupants likely realized they were being investigated and took off at a high-rate of speed. Though other deputies attempted to pull the suspect vehicle over, it would not stop and eventually got on the Turnpike racing south. The community was canvassed for signs of possible burglaries with negative results.
Window wrecker: Though there was nothing in the report to say she had been scorned and there’s actually no definitive proof that hell has no fury like a woman scorned (it could have more), a woman unleashed some serious fury on a man’s vehicle in the 6700 block of Heritage Grande. Scorned or not, the woman managed to break all of his car’s windows. Despite the damage, the man declined to press charges.
Boat basher: Stored at a lot in the 6700 block of Woolbright Road, a man’s boat was targeted by possible thieves. Whoever they were and whatever their purpose, they managed to cut the boat’s top in three places and damaged a trolling motor while trying to remove it. They also smashed one of the interior lights. There were no surveillance cameras in the area and the boat is now kept at a different location.
Grab and go, V. 3: Reaching over the counter at a store in a shopping center in the 10300 block of Forest Hill Boulevard, a woman slid back the door to the glass display case and went to work. The woman quickly selected four bottles of men’s fragrance, concealed them in purse and then left the store. From reaching over the counter, to walking out of the store, to leaving the complex and getting into a get-away vehicle, the entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras. Not your grandad’s aftershave, and more likely on the level of “Sex Panther,” the four fragrances were worth nearly $1,200.
Window wrecker, V. 2: Though the glass front door of a business in the 3100 block of State Road 7 was smashed, no entry was made. Just like the sniper in the movie “The Jerk” who was thought to hate cans, maybe the perpetrator just hated glass front doors. In this insane world … why not?
Sneak thief: A woman alerted deputies that there have been several instances where she has left her home in the 200 block of Bobwhite Road and returned to find items missing. She was able to describe several incidents when she was out with her aide and this occurred. She said cosmetic items from out of the bathroom have been taken as well as two pairs of sandals. She even said she’d left a box of cereal in her bedroom and that when she returned, she discovered “crunchy stuff” on the ground along with a small bit of cardboard. Deputies could find no sign of burglary to the home.
Equine emancipator: An unknown suspect entered a property in the 6500 block of Carol Street and opened the horse arena. The horses, though unharmed, were found roaming the property. There are no suspects at this time.
Compiled by Eddie Ritz from area law enforcement records.
