A homeless man was arrested Monday after he allegedly attempted to pawn stolen dive and spearfishing equipment.
John Christopher Phillips, 41, was charged with burglary, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and possession of stolen property.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Joe’s Marathon Pawn shop after the shop contacted them and reported their suspicion that the merchandise Phillips was attempting to pawn was stolen, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Phillips left his ID and all the stolen equipment at the pawn shop before he left, reportedly because he was upset that they wouldn’t make the sale.
The equipment was reportedly stolen sometime on Sunday night or early Monday morning from a vehicle parked at the Brass Monkey Bar. Phillips loaded the gear into a Winn-Dixie shopping cart that he also stole, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A sticker on one of the spearguns allowed deputies to contact the rightful owner of the equipment on Monday, and the owner had not yet realized his vehicle had been burglarized. All equipment was subsequently returned to the victim.
Deputies located Phillips near the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Marathon, where he was arrested.
Phillips was booked into jail, where he was being held without bond.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.