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Neighbor Catches Man Trying To Steal Stove, Police Say

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2008

TAMPA -- Brent Wesley Small entered a vacant house through a broken glass window and used a hand truck to steal a Kenmore electric range from the kitchen, Tampa police say.

  Brent Wesley Small

Police arrested Small on Monday at his son's home near the burglary scene.

Small, 47, was charged with burglary, grand theft and resisting arrest without violence.

A neighbor saw Small exit through a front door at 2127 W. Beach St. and confronted him, a criminal arrest affidavit states. Small left the stove, worth about $100, by the front door and tried to leave the area.

The neighbor called the homeowner and police. He told officers he thought the burglar lived nearby, according to a police report.

Police saw Small in the backyard of his son's home, 2135 W. Beach St.

When they told him to stop, Small ran into the home, police say. They searched the home and found him hiding in a closet, the report states.

Small was arrested without incident. Officers questioned him about the theft.

"He advised that he has a serious drug problem and smoked crack cocaine earlier in the day," the report states. "He said that when he smokes crack, he makes bad decisions. He stated that he was walking through the alley behind the house and that one of the back windows was broken, so he went inside the house. Once inside, he decided to take the stove."

Small had no answer when police asked what he was going to do with the stove, according to the affidavit.

Small remained in Orient Road Jail today. His bail was set at $10,000.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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