Man busts through store roof, steals lottery tickets

Jul 20, 2018, 9:01 am (27 comments)

Florida Lottery

Includes video report

By Todd Northrop

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A thief hoping to steal his way to some good luck busted through the roof of a grocery store and took hundreds of dollars worth of lottery tickets on Wednesday.

Ironically, unlucky for him, it was all caught on camera.

Surveillance footage captured a fairly clear image of the suspect's face, and after about a day on the run, Kevin Croft, 30, was arrested for the crime by Florida detectives.

Croft was booked into the Lee County Jail and faces charges of burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief/property damage.

The arrest is the 21st booking for Croft, who is also a registered convicted felon.  His criminal past includes multiple counts of drug use, theft and battery, among other criminal counts.  He is currently being held on $15,000 bond.

Deputies noticed that the roof of the store was the point of entry when they arrived at Laurel Lane Grocery store in the Suncoast Estates community during the early morning hours of July 18. The suspect allegedly cut through plywood and asphalt shingles to get through.

Once inside the store, he went straight for the lottery tickets and stole several dozen, according to deputies. He then went back through the roof for his escape.

VIDEO: Watch the report

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

wander73's avatarwander73

LMFAO.   Seriously.  What was he thinking of?  Lottery tickets are as bad as someone stealing inspection stickers.   It's not worth it. 

 

I guess he didn't think of the cameras.   It's not worth it.  Ya can't fix stupid and nobody should have to fight stupid.   I think that is how the saying goes.  He watched too much tarzan too. 

 

This will be on the dumbest criminals comedy videos for sure.   I recall watching Tonya Harding and her as well as other comedians are funny.

noise-gate

.. is it just me or do l sense that Kevin cannot function “ on the outside.”

Check this: 21st booking.This guy wants back inside.Free dental, medical etc etc. Semi skilled thieves break in, with masks covering their faces, they certainly do not want to be identified, for fear of going to jail, but not Kev.Had he fallen through the ceiling, dislocated his shoulder,had a compound fracture,no problem, just patch me up and send me back to jail.

noise-gate

You a cop or ex cop CD- l guess you saw a lot of this S*** on your watch.

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 20, 2018

You a cop or ex cop CD- l guess you saw a lot of this S*** on your watch.

Green laugh

Yes Noise, and yes I saw my fair share of unique folks just like this Kevin.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

His Odds of Getting Caught were much better than Winning Any Money off the Tickets he Stole!

Bleudog101

Professional criminal and a stupid one @ that.  Imagine if he had gotten away with it for a little longer...went to cash in one of the tickets and clerk says 'These haven't been activated'.  Though I'm sure they were.

BTW my modem has been updated by my favorite company a day early and am playing on-line again.  The cable company said they wouldn't do it, imagine that?

Rarely play KY pick 3 or 4 but am curious to what changes the KY lottery has in store for those two games? 

uprrman's avataruprrman

stupid is  funny sometimes.

cameras everywhere.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

music*'s avatarmusic*

I hope that there are faith-filled Christians who work in the Florida prison system and can direct Kevin Croft back to the path that Jesus took.  Kevin could have thirty years or more to live a decent life. 

 I thank God that he is not a violent criminal. There is hope for him. 

Patriot 

wander73's avatarwander73

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jul 20, 2018

Professional criminal and a stupid one @ that.  Imagine if he had gotten away with it for a little longer...went to cash in one of the tickets and clerk says 'These haven't been activated'.  Though I'm sure they were.

BTW my modem has been updated by my favorite company a day early and am playing on-line again.  The cable company said they wouldn't do it, imagine that?

Rarely play KY pick 3 or 4 but am curious to what changes the KY lottery has in store for those two games? 

You know what.  You made an interesting point.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

noise-gate,

Good points.

Three hots and a cot! (And medical, etc....)

///////////////////////////

music,

Some are just recidivists. 

The Bible says a leopard can't change its spots.

Smile

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Jul 20, 2018

noise-gate,

Good points.

Three hots and a cot! (And medical, etc....)

///////////////////////////

music,

Some are just recidivists. 

The Bible says a leopard can't change its spots.

Smile

Coin Toss, As we age we become a bit wiser. I understand your points. This leopard better becomes less of a predator and more of a man.

 Do not deny the Power of God. 

Redd55

A not so funny story is two guys in LA robbed a gas station of scratcher tickets and for no reason shot and killed the poor clerk.  They caught them, thank God, and now they are looking at the death penalty or LWOP.   

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