Charter Boat Captain Hooks a Thief

A charter fishing captain is getting the credit for helping the St. Petersburg Police Department reel in a tackle thief.

According to the department, Capt. Craig Richardson had tackle stolen from his fenced-in backyard’s gazebo about three times since Thanksgiving. Fed up, Richardson decided to install a sports camera to record comings and goings in his backyard.

That installation paid off Monday when the camera captured a teen climbing Richardson’s fence and taking rods and tackle from the gazebo.

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Richardson posted still shots of the thief on his Facebook page, an email from the police department stated. Within a few minutes, friends of his were able to identify the boy in the photos as a 15-year-old who is noted for visiting fishing shops and fishing spots, the email said. Richardson then found the teen on Facebook and matched up the photos.

“Richardson reported the theft and all the information he gathered to St. Petersburg Police detectives on January 5th,” the email stated. “Police detectives arrested the juvenile that same day. He is charged with residential burglary.”

Richardson’s handiwork points out just how valuable residential and commercial cameras can be in crime fighting, the department noted. Anyone who would like to have their camera registered with the agency’s Eagle Eye program can visit the department’s website.

Image via Shutterstock