As the economy has sunk, burglary and theft have been on the rise, and Florida's top prosecutor warns that it could get worse. ...more

October 14, 2008

Some downtown merchants have petitioned for an increased police presence downtown, but Police Chief Bill McDaniel said a plan is already in the works. ...more

August 27, 2008

A 37-year-old Tampa woman tried shoplifting nearly $450 in items from a Walmart this morning, Tampa police say. ...more

August 19, 2008

An Avon Park woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bond on Thursday, after she was arrested at the Belk Department Store, in the Lakeshore Mall. ...more

August 14, 2008

A Plant City woman is accused of taking her five children on a shoplifting trip to a Wal-Mart with her 13-year-old stepson and another woman, a police affidavit states. ...more

July 4, 2008

A Plant City woman is accused of taking five children on a shoplifting trip to Wal-Mart, an affidavit states. ...more

July 3, 2008

Authorities are looking for two women who were seen bringing four children on a shoplifting trip to a Bealls department store on Route 54 in New Port Richey. The women were captured on store surveillance cameras as they entered the store, selected a large purse and began taking items from the men's and children's sections and putting them in the purse, according to an investigation report from the Pasco County Sheriff's Department. ...more

July 1, 2008

AVON PARK — An Avon Park woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bond Wednesday, after police charged her with punching and robbing her ex in the parking lot of the Hendricks Corner grocery store. Cara Anne Parnell, 31, of 906 Palmer Ave., was booked on charges of robbery and domestic violence battery (with a previous conviction for domestic battery). The 57-year-old victim, an Avon Park resident living at a different address, reported that at about 8 a.m. Saturday, he was parked along the west side of Hendricks and was standing at his driver's side door, when Parnell got out of a blue vehicle and walked up to him demanding money, the report stated. The victim refused and was punched in his neck. Parnell walked away, but returned demanding money again. He told her he wasn't giving her any, the report stated. ...more

May 28, 2008

Warning: Giving out rides to strangers — or refusing to pick them up — can be a dangerous undertaking. ...more

May 6, 2008

TAMPA The man shown on video taking cash from a safe at a Big Lots store in Seminole was arrested today and linked to other robberies in the area, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

February 21, 2008