WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven man has been arrested for allegedly smashing the front door of a store and then returning the next day to offer his services as a repairman.
45-year-old Robert Biddle was taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, January 8th, in connection with the incident, which occurred on January 4th at a store near the intersection of K-Ville Avenue and Thornhill Road in Auburndale.
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According to the Sheriff’s Office, Biddle was caught on camera throwing a concrete rock through the glass front door of the store around 10:38 PM, causing an estimated $1,200 in damage.
The store owner recognized Biddle as a repairman who had previously done work at the store a few months prior. Adding to the bizarre nature of the incident, Biddle returned to the store the following day, driving a white van, and inquired if the owner needed any repairs done.
The detective investigating the case discovered that Biddle was already on probation for – you guessed it – criminal mischief/property damage. This revelation further solidified the suspicion that Biddle had intentionally damaged the door to solicit repair work.
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Biddle was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of:
- Throwing a deadly missile into a building
- Cheating or gross fraud
- Stalking
- Violation of probation
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are looking into whether Biddle may have been involved in similar incidents in the area.
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