CITRA, FLORIDA: In a series of alleged thefts that spans 15 years, Florida man Gary Bebee has found himself in legal trouble once again. The Marion County Sheriff's Office apprehended Bebee on Monday, July 31, after he was accused of stealing a lawn mower from a woman's yard. This latest incident has led to his arrest on charges of second-degree petit theft, marking the seventh time he has been accused of theft over the past decade and a half.
Deputies were called to a house in the 7700 block of NE 132nd Place after a woman reported that her lawn mower had been stolen from her yard. The woman stated that she wasn't at home during the theft but witnessed the entire incident through her home's surveillance cameras, according to an affidavit, per Fox 35. The stolen lawn mower was reportedly a red Craftsman T2000 model with an estimated value of approximately $500.
Who is Gary Bebee?
Gary Bebee is a 30-year-old man from Citra, Florida, who was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff's Office for allegedly stealing a lawn mower. Upon arriving at the Citra property, the deputies spotted a man who matched the woman's description of the suspect, later identified as Bebee. He was seen riding away from the house on the stolen lawn mower, confirming the woman's account of the events. The deputies acted promptly to arrest him, taking necessary measures to address the reported theft and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
When the deputies confronted Bebee, he claimed that he was merely retrieving the lawn mower from his sister's residence. However, the homeowner disputed his claim, asserting that she had recently purchased the property from another woman, making everything on the premises, including the lawn mower, her rightful possession. The situation took a compelling turn when Bebee's alleged sister corroborated the homeowner's statement, confirming that the lawn mower indeed belonged to the new property owner. According to the deputies, Bebee did not have permission to take the lawn mower, and his actions were unauthorized.
Gary Bebee is being held at a $2000 bond
Upon having his Miranda Rights read to him, Bebee cooperated with the deputies and agreed to speak with them. He claimed that he was unaware that his sister had sold her property, as stated in the affidavit. Bebee also reportedly confessed to trespassing onto the property, taking the lawn mower, and driving it down the road. Following the questioning and his admission of the incident, Bebee was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail. His bail was set at $2,000 as per the authorities' decision.
