POLK COUNTY, Fla. – In a crime caper that could only happen in Florida, 33-year-old Felipe Jesus Gutierres of Winter Haven found himself in a bit of a pickle (pun intended!) on the evening of September 29, 2024.
It seems Mr. Gutierres has a penchant for pickles, a penchant that has repeatedly led him into trouble with the law. On Sunday night, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Superway Food Mart, reporting a disturbance caused by a man who had previously stolen from the store.
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The store employee, clearly exasperated, told the deputy that Gutierres is a frequent shoplifter with a unique modus operandi: when he does pay, he throws the incorrect amount of money on the counter.
This time, however, the object of Gutierres’ desire was a jar of pickles. The store owner, having reached his dill-with-it point, decided to press charges.
A deputy quickly located and apprehended Gutierres, who upon arrest, reportedly quipped, “Oh, I’m going to jail as a pickle thief.”
It turns out the ‘Pickle Thief’ has a long rap sheet dating back to 2010. Due to his prior convictions, this pickle pilfering escapade has landed him a felony charge.
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One can only hope that this latest arrest will finally put an end to the Pickle Thief’s crime spree, or at the very least, encourage him to switch to a less incriminating snack.
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