POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) have arrested a Lakeland man in connection to multiple thefts, including the theft of tools from a construction site and a vehicle.
Michael David Reading, 50, was arrested on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. It was noted that Reading had recently been released from jail in February 2025 on drug and paraphernalia charges and has a total of 21 bookings at the Polk County Jail.
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The investigation began on April 1, 2025, with a report of a tool theft from a construction site at Simmers Young Park in Winter Haven. Construction crew members reported that a generator and several Milwaukee brand power tools were missing from a locked utility trailer. The tools were locked up on March 31.
While investigating the tool theft, the PCSO received a report of a stolen 1989 Ford Bronco from a Shell gas station in Auburndale. The vehicle owner had left the Bronco locked and parked at the gas station on April 6th after it broke down. Surveillance video captured two men arriving at the scene and towing the Bronco away with a grey pickup truck that had distinctive white lettering on the rear window.
A PCSO crime analyst identified the suspect vehicle as a 2000 Ford Ranger registered to a Winter Haven resident. Detectives interviewed the truck’s owner, who stated that he had recently sold the vehicle to a man named Mike. The contact information provided for “Mike” led to the positive identification of Michael David Reading.
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When detectives went to Reading’s home, they located both the stolen Bronco and the Ford Ranger. Detectives also discovered that Reading had removed the license plate from the Ranger and the distinctive large white letters from the rear window.
Detectives found an orange Predator 5000 generator matching the description of the stolen generator on Reading’s porch. The victim of the tool theft positively identified the generator. Reading denied stealing the generator, claiming he was in the hospital between April 1st and 2nd. However, detectives obtained evidence that contradicted his claim.
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Sheriff Grady Judd commented on Reading’s alleged actions, saying, “Michael Reading is one of those criminals who simply does not hesitate to steal, cheat, and lie. He has lived a life of crime and has shown no remorse, nor any indication that he will change his criminal ways. It is apparent that the only way to keep him from committing crime is to keep him locked up.”
Reading was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- 2 counts of Burglary (F3)
- Grand theft of a motor vehicle (F3)
- Grand theft (F3)
- Conspiracy to commit grand theft (F3)
- Operating an unpermitted landfill (M1)
Reading’s criminal history includes prior convictions for burglary, theft, and dealing in stolen property, deputies say.
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