POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A late-night heist in the Combee area of Lakeland ended in a quick turnaround this week after a pair of 18-year-old roommates were tracked down and arrested. The incident began shortly after midnight on March 21, 2026, when an electric bicycle valued at $750 was snatched from the porch of a local residence.
While the theft was carried out by two individuals—one of whom was wearing a mask—the investigation gained momentum thanks to some very specific details provided by the community. Locals recalled seeing a young man the day before the crime who had been chatting about playing basketball.
During those conversations, the man claimed to be a U.S. Marine and was seen carrying a pair of handcuffs in his pocket.
That description rang a bell for a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy. Recalling a trespassing incident at a Harvey’s store just the night before, the deputy pulled his records and identified the individual as Michael Rogers. Rogers, 18, lives just two streets away from where the bike was taken.
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As deputies followed the trail, they identified the second suspect as Rogers’ roommate, 18-year-old Jonathan White. When confronted by authorities, both men provided full confessions. The stolen e-bike was successfully recovered and returned to its owner.
Both men now face legal consequences. Because Rogers wore a mask during the theft, his charges were automatically enhanced by one degree under Florida law. He is charged with Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling and Grand Theft from a Dwelling.
White, who was already out on probation at the time of the incident, faces the same burglary and theft charges, along with an additional count for Violation of Probation. Both suspects were booked into the Sheriff’s Processing Center following their arrest.
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