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Trio tries to cover burglary by claiming to be like 'Steve Irwin'

Winter Haven, Florida-- According to the Winter Haven Police Department, police caught a trio burglarizing a residence, and arrested them, despite their differing attempts to cover up their actions.

On Wednesday, April 12, police received a complaint from an alert citizen, and at approximately 11:30 a.m., arrived to the home in question where Evelyn Belmont, 24, stood outside. 

She asked the police if they knew if the property was for rent. 

Woman with "theft problem" steals over 50 designer glasses

Winter Haven, Fla. -- A Winter Haven woman was arrested Monday after detectives discovered the designer glasses she stole were being sold on her daughter's Facebook group page.

According to the Winter Haven Polcie Department, back on Dec. 22, 44-year-old Juli Mercer went to Family Eye Care Clinic in Winter Haven and was seen trying on sunglasses. During her time there, she left the business and returned several times and when she left the last time, employees noticed over 50 pairs of glasses were missing.

Two cars hit by shotgun blasts

Two cars hit by shotgun blasts

Lake Wales, FL -- The Polk County Sheriff's Office needs the public's help identifying the person(s) responsible for shooting two cars with a shotgun in Lake Wales.

According to detectives, sometime between midnight and 1 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29, the vehicles were damaged with shotgun blasts. One of the cars was located on Goldenbough Road and the other on Pine Tree Drive.

If you have any information on these incidents, you are urged to contact Detective Chris Katsoulis with the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-678-4107 or 863-298-6200.

VIDEO: Man shoots at laundromat's change machine

Winter Haven, Florida -- Deputies are searching for the man they say shot a change machine several times in an effort to steal money from it.

Surveillance video shows on the night of January 4, a man wearing a gray hoodie covering his face entered the Busy Bubbles laundromat on Cypress Gardens Road. He promptly walks to the change machine and fires a shot into it with a semi-automatic handgun.

After briefly inspecting the machine, he proceeds to fire several more rounds into it, before leaving as quickly as he came in. He was not able to get any money from the machine.

Man arrested for throwing out bag of marijuana at courthouse

Man arrested for throwing out bag of marijuana at courthouse

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Winter Haven police have arrested a 31-year-old man on drug charges after he threw away a bag containing more than 20 grams of marijuana at a courthouse.

Police say Demetrius Nickerson was at the courthouse around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and attempted to pass through security. After setting off the metal detector, Nickerson was wanded by security personnel, who discovered a hard, unknown object.

Nickerson quickly told security that he would be right back and headed out the front door. Police say he returned a short time later and proceeded through security.

Deputies thank accused thief for "lousy paint job"

Winter Haven, Florida - Deputies are thanking a Polk County man for a lousy paint job he thought would let him get away with stealing a motorcycle but, instead, led to his arrest.

Kip Quinn, 29, of Auburndale faces a list of charges for a theft that occurred back in October when a red motorcycle was taken from an address on Martha Drive.

Deputy's tase, shoot at man armed with hammer

Lake Wales, Florida - Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives are currently working a deputy involved shooting in which a suspect threatened deputies with a hammer along US Highway 27 South in Lake Wales.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies, Paul Stroud, 29, and Stephen Theriac, 40, were alerted to a male subject behaving erratically and throwing objects onto the roadway.