Porch Pirates Target Hulk, Gator ‘Rides’ Manatee, ‘Sharpie’ Dressed Robber: Weird Florida

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the more unusual, wacky or just plain weird stories that have had people talking over the past few weeks:

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.

Sen. Bill Nelson Smacks Down N.J. Senator in Push-Up Contest

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is already known for his tenacity and willingness to take on out-of-this-world assignments without batting an eye. Now, the 74-year-old Florida Democrat can also add push-up champ to his list of accomplishments.

Jaw-Dropping Gator ‘Riding’ Manatee Photo Raises Awareness for Gentle Giants

Spotting manatees at Orange City’s Blue Spring State Park is nothing out of the ordinary. Nor is catching a glimpse of an alligator. What is unusual is capturing an image of what appears to be an alligator riding on the back of one of Florida’s gentle giants.

Soft-Spoken Bank Robber Busted After Tips Poured In

The man believed responsible for robbing New Port Richey’s TD Bank Tuesday afternoon is behind bars after eight different people, including six tipsters, identified him from surveillance photos.

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.

Watch: Florida Man Caught Peeping Up Woman’s Skirt at Walmart

A Sarasota man’s alleged decision to take a break from shopping at a local Walmart to have a gander, or three, up a woman's skirt didn't end so well for him.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission