A convicted felon was arrested after a crime spree in Central Florida.
The crime spree involved commercial burglaries and Randy Thomas Whitfield, a Lakeland man with 16 prior felony convictions, was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and charged with multiple counts of grand theft, burglary, and dealing in stolen property.
The Central Florida arrest happened after an extensive investigation into business burglaries and theft of lawn equipment and power tools.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Southwest District detectives began an investigation into burglary and grand theft at a lawn business on Combee Road South in the unincorporated area of Lakeland, during which an unknown suspect stole four backpack blowers, five Echo hedge trimmers, seven Echo weed eaters, and three Echo edgers, valued at approximately $13,950. Surveillance video from the business and surrounding area showed the suspect arriving and leaving in a newer model white Ford F-150.
During the investigation a pattern of similar crimes was identified, with a consistent pattern: fenced commercial properties targeted at night, fences cut, lawn equipment and tools stolen, and a white Ford F-150 used as the getaway vehicle. In several cases, surveillance depicted a shorter white male (approximately 5’5″) wearing a mask, gloves, and dark clothing.
A PCSO crime analyst determined that the truck was registered to Whitfield, who was positively identified and charged in two Plant City cases using the same vehicle. He was arrested by the PCPD and released three days later from the Hillsborough County Jail after posting bond.
The Lakeland Police Department received a report of a burglary at Lakeland Public Works, committed by a masked male who cut the fence and removed a demo saw, a pole saw, and DeWalt grease guns. He was positively identified as the same suspect in a business burglary in the city of Lakeland, during which he stole $3,300 worth of property.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Whitfield’s residence and truck, and responded to his East Lime Street apartment. When they arrived, Whitfield was walking to his truck holding the two saws from the Lakeland Public Works theft. Detectives found a large quantity of stolen tools, and drugs, inside the apartment where he lives alone. He initially admitted to detectives that he stole the tools and equipment to sell at the flea market but then refused to answer any further questions.
According to local law enforcement, Randy Thomas Whitfield was charged with: eight counts burglary, three counts grand theft between $10,000 and $20,000, three counts grand theft between $750 and $5,000, seven counts criminal mischief, seven counts possession of burglary tools, one count dealing in stolen property, one count petit theft, one count possession of meth, one count possession of Alprazolam, and one count possession of drug paraphernalia.
All of his Polk County theft-related charges are enhanced by one degree due to the fact that he wore a mask during the commission of the felonies.
“My detectives solved a burglary trend through hard work, thorough analysis, and cooperation with other agencies,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “This is why crime in Polk County is at an all-time low – we study crime patterns and trends and put the people who are committing the crimes in jail.”
