Sheriff: Florida Man Stole Statues For Valentine's Day Gift For Ex-Girlfriend

Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office

LAKELAND, Florida - A Florida man was arrested after he allegedly stole a pair of sandhill crane statues for a Valentine's Day gift to give to his ex-girlfriend in Lakeland, Florida.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd highlighted the arrest during his morning briefing on Facebook. 

"It's morning briefing time on this Valentine's Day with Jona-bells cafe in north Lakeland and a story about a would-be Romeo who gifted a pair of sandhill crane statues (because they mate for life, he said) to try to win back his ex," Sheriff Grady wrote. 

"In the bad news department - he stole them from a woman's front lawn. Anthony Lewis steals things -- it's what he does when he's not in jail, which is where he is now."

Credit: Polk County Jail

Sheriff Grady added that 33-year-old Anthony Lewis rode a bicycle up to the victim's front yard and stole the cranes which were given to her by her now-deceased husband.

When detectives later found the cranes at the Florida man's ex-girlfriend's house, Sheriff Grady said that the ex-girlfriend was mortified and fully cooperated with the investigation.

The cranes were recovered by deputies and returned to the victim.

According to Polk County Jail records, Lewis was charged with felony petit theft (third or subsequent offence), dealing in stolen property, and possession of methamphetamine.

Lewis is being held on $27,000 bond.