Crime & Safety
'Smokey The Bear' Helps Arrest Man Who Stole Signs From FL Parks: Official
An employee dressed as the Smokey the Bear mascot helped arrest a man who stole signs from FL state forests, an official said.
A man accused of stealing Smokey the Bear signs from state forests across Florida was arrested with some help from the iconic mascot himself.
The suspect traveled to parks from Pensacola to Orlando to steal the signs, which he listed on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson posted to X.
“What happens when dumb criminals poke the bear?” he wrote.
Find out what's happening in Orlandofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Simpson didn’t say how many signs were stolen or from which parks.
See Also:
Find out what's happening in Orlandofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- FL Chuck E. Cheese Employee Dressed As Mouse Mascot Arrested In Costume, Accused Of Debit Card Theft: Reports
- Man Drowned In Pool At Bradenton Apartment Complex During Party: Police
- Jannus Owner Jeffrey Knight Charged With 8 Felony Counts In Clearwater Ferry Crash: Reports
- Officer Hospitalized, Suspect Dead After Shooting Near Busch Gardens In Tampa: Reports
- 2 Girls Dead, 2 Critically Injured After Barge Hits Youth Camp Sailboat In South FL: Reports
He also gave a “big thank you” to a state forest employee dressed as Smokey the Bear “for personally assisting in the arrest.”
"Smokey is always around our forest and just got lucky today that he saw the bad guy and got him handcuffed," Simpson told Fox 13. "What an idiot, what an idiot."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
