Vigilant Neighbor Caught Burglar Red Handed, Cops Say

A watchful neighbor is getting the credit for helping Sarasota County deputies stop a burglar in his tracks Wednesday afternoon.

According to the sheriff’s office, Ronald Smith noticed a black truck parked outside a vacant home at 2217 Michele Drive Wednesday just before 4 p.m. Curious why someone would be outside the vacant home, Smith approached the man to inquire why he was there.

The man, identified as Stefan Simmons in an arrest report, told Smith he wanted to see about renting a room. When Smith told Simmons no one lived in the home, Simmons said he wanted to buy the house, the report said.

Smith, who knows the owner, quickly informed Simmons of that and told him the house was not for sale. After a 10-minute conversation, Simmons agreed to leave, the report said, but didn’t make the correct turn to leave the neighborhood.

Still concerned about just what Simmons was doing on Michele Drive, Smith grabbed his dog and went for a walk in the direction the black truck headed in. Smith came across the truck once again parked outside the home at 2238 Michele Drive, the report stated. Finding that odd, Smith snapped a cellphone photo of the truck’s Michigan tag and then left to watch from a distance.

A short time later, Simmons, the report said, came out from the back of the house carrying something in his hands.

“Smith yelled at Simmons, stating ‘what are you doing,’” the report said.

Simmons jumped into the truck and fled the neighborhood, but he didn’t get away for long.

Smith provided deputies with information about what he had witnessed. Deputies, in turn, confirmed that the second home had been burglarized. They also tracked down the truck’s owner who told them his employee was driving his vehicle.

Deputies caught up with the black truck at a gas station on Clark Road about three hours later. Simmons was brought into custody at that time, the report stated.

Simmons is currently charged with one count of burglary, the sheriff’s office said in an email to media. The investigation remains active and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 941-861-4900.

Simmons was being held at the Sarasota County Jail Thursday in lieu of $1,500 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office