Tampa's Not So Smart Criminals

So, imagine one day you offer to give a friend a ride and in return that friend takes from your vehicle (without permission and without your knowledge) $1,200 cash, a cell phone, a Sunpass, and a digital camera. Weeks later the “friend” contacts you and offers to sell your camera and phone back to you for $40.00. Sound like a deal? Well maybe buying your own stolen property back isn't exactly a blue light special but it does have a ring to it when you get TPD's Rapid Offender Control (ROC) squad involved. This victim contacted District 2 and patrol officers along with ROC Squad #232 set up 'Operation Bad Friend'. The “friend” offered to meet the victim but was instead greeted by some of TPD's finest. The suspect aka 'bad friend' was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail. Instead of $40 'bad friend' was given a cozy pair of slides and slightly used orange outfit for her involvement. Also, she has officially been de-friended by the victim. Stay tuned for more episodes of Tampa's not so smart criminals.

Blog Contributor: Officer Robin Polk, District 2 ROC Squad