Cop Wrangles Gator, Burglar Squeezes Through Window, Stiffed Cabbie: Weird Florida

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the more unusual, wonderful or just plain weird stories from the past few weeks:

McDonald’s Loving Gator Gets To Stay With Florida Woman

Christmas came early for Lakeland’s Mary Thorn and her alligator Rambo. After a lengthy back-and-forth with state wildlife officials, it’s been decided the McDonald’s eating, ATV-riding critter should remain in Thorn’s care.

Watch: Big Burglary Suspect Squeezes Through Tiny Window

The St. Petersburg Police Department is looking for help identifying a man its officers say wanted to burglarize The Chattaway restaurant so badly he squeezed through a small window to do so.

Watch: Cop Wrangles Gator on Doorstep

Folks with horror stories about unwanted holiday company may not be able to top one Sarasota family’s tale. It seems an alligator paid the family's front doorstep a visit and had no intention of leaving right away.

Governor Praises Pitbull But Asks Tourism Chief to Step Down

One day after South Florida superstar Pitbull tweeted out his $1 million contract to promote Florida's "Sexy Beaches" and tourism efforts, Gov. Rick Scott asked tourism officials to no longer keep secret the amount they pay celebrities and called for the resignation of the tourism chief.

Hulk Hogan's Clearwater Mansion Invaded By 'Porch Pirates'

Not even former professional wrestlers are immune from the antics of “porch pirates” as the busy holiday package delivery season swings into full gear.

‘Sharpie’ Dressed Man, Woman Sought In Florida Robbery

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is looking for some help identifying an accused robber whose unique taste in disguises even has deputies scratching their heads trying to figure out if it’s a man or a woman.

Watch: Vehicle Slams Into Cop's Cruiser, Causes Pileup

Moving out of the way of an emergency vehicle that’s pulled over is not only a smart way to avoid a crash, it’s the law in Florida. The Largo Police Department is trying to send that message home to area motorists after a four-vehicle pileup occurred along Roosevelt Boulevard Tuesday afternoon.

‘Blue’ Gopher Tortoise No Laughing Matter: State Wildlife Officials

Electric blue might be all the rage for teenage girls’ hair, but it’s never, ever OK to paint a gopher tortoise that color or any other. That’s the message the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is trying to share following a recent incident in Martin County.

Stiffed Cabbie Leads Cops to Suspected Armed Robber

A Clearwater cab driver stiffed by an early Wednesday morning fare inadvertently led police to a man wanted in connection with a Tuesday night armed robbery at a local Subway.

Surveillance photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office