18,000 Pounds of King Crab Swiped from Florida Warehouse

A 29-year-old Lakeland man accused of facilitating a massive shellfish heist in April is adamantly denying a connection to the crime.

Warehouse worker Joshua Paul Warner was brought into custody May 1, charged with cargo theft and burglary of an unoccupied structure, according to Polk County Jail records. Warner was charged after Polk County deputies spotted him on surveillance video unlocking a door at the Comcar Warehouse in Winter Haven, according to ABC News.

About 15 hours later, surveillance captured two men entering the facility and swiping about 30 pallets of king crab claws, according to a sheriff’s office bulletin.

“The suspects utilized an unknown tractor trailer, believed to be a Freightliner with no decals, to remove the product,” the alert said. “The subjects demonstrated a proficiency in the manipulation of warehouse equipment.”

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It seems once inside the 105 Industrial Blvd. warehouse, the mask-wearing suspects used a forklift to load the ill-gotten crab.

Warner, a father of eight, told ABC he had nothing to do with the crime.

“I totally dislike a thief,” the station quoted him as saying. He has been suspended from his job without pay pending the investigation’s outcome.

The 18,000 pounds of crab have not been recovered an have an estimated value of nearly $271,000. Authorities believe the crab has probably already been sold.

Polk County investigators have yet to make additional arrests in the case. They are asking anyone with information to contact Det. Mike Richards at 863-297-1151.

Photos courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office

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