Sheriff's Office: Career Criminal Left Fingerprints Behind

Leaving a fingerprint behind at the scene of a crime is generally not in a criminal’s best interest. Doing so when prints are already in the system can prove to be a major blunder that leads to a swift arrest.

That’s what the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said happened Thursday when it arrested a 31-year-old woman on burglary charges.

The crime that led to Laura Wyatt’s arrest actually took place earlier in the week at the Gateway Lakes apartments. Deputies say a vehicle there was broken into and such items as a Coach purse, wallet, credit cards and jewelry were swiped. A public service aide from the sheriff’s office was sent out to answer the call.

The aide took the report and carefully collected fingerprints from the vehicle. Those prints came back as a match for Wyatt, who happens to live in the same apartment complex.

The sheriff’s office also discovered that Wyatt used one of the credit cards to buy a $125 Michael Kors purse online. Deputies also say she used two other stolen credit cards to make other purchases locally.

Wyatt has 16 prior felony convictions and has served a stint in the Florida State Prison system. Now she’s being held in the Sarasota County Jail, charged with vehicle burglary and four counts of criminal use of personal investigation.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office