Police: Man Stole Equipment From Unmarked Cars

A St Petersburg man is charged with stealing equipment from two unmarked police cars, officials said Tuesday. 

According to St. Petersburg Police, Rashaud Desean Benjamin, 19, broke into an undercover detective's vehicle that was parked outside of his home sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. Stolen were the detective's ballistic vest, a police radio, a cell phone charger and a flashlight. No firearms were in the car at the time, police said.

Authorities said some of the stolen equipment was found in Benjamin's possession when a Honda Civic he was driving was stopped by detectives Monday afternoon at 13th Avenue North and 25th Street. Also found was property taken from the unmarked police vehicle of Detective Matthew Furse, which was stolen March 25 and later found in Lake Maggiore.

Two guns also stolen from that unmarked car March 25 were later recovered, officials said last month.

Police said they were led to Benjamin through forensic evidence taken from a recently recovered Lexus RX330 sedan that had been stolen. The stolen police radio and flashlight were found inside the Lexus, officials said.

That evidence also led investigators to Randy Revell Stanley, 19, who reportedly told detectives that while he did not participate in the burglary to the two police vehicles, he did buy three police ballistic vests for $600.

Stanley was arrested Tuesday and charged with dealing in stolen property and one count of auto theft related to the stolen Lexus.

Benjamin was arrested and charged with two counts of auto burglary to the two police vehicles, as well as one count of auto theft in connection to the stolen Lexus.

After his arrest, Benjamin helped lead detectives to recovering three stolen vests, police said.

Detectives say it's not yet clear whether Benjamin and Stanley were specifically targeting police vehicles, but they believe there are others who have knowledge of or participated in these crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the department's non-emergency number at 727-893-7780, Text-A-Tip to 727-420-8911 or leave a confidential tip at 727-892-5000.

Benjamin was being held in Pinellas County Jail on $15,000 bond and awaiting trial, online records show. Stanley was also being held on an unspecified bond and awaiting trial.

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