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Bicycle-Riding Suspect Arrested After Tool Theft In Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 56-year-old man faces charges after allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of tools from a parked work truck, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrested Joe Talmadge Butts on August 22, one day after the reported theft.

According to investigators, Butts entered the bed of a work truck parked at a business along Windhorst Road on August 21. Authorities said he took multiple bags containing hundreds of dollars in tools from the vehicle.

Surveillance video from the scene captured the suspect riding a bicycle and pulling a trailer during the incident. Using investigative leads, deputies identified Butts as the suspect.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies located Butts the following day while he was riding the same bicycle and pulling the trailer seen in the surveillance footage.

During the arrest, deputies searched Butts and found methamphetamine in his pocket. He was taken into custody without further incident.

READ: Lakeland Man Arrested After Telling Deputy He Would Turn Himself In On Monday

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