Florida man allegedly steals utility truck, $300,000 worth of employer’s equipment while wearing ankle monitor
The Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office says Lewis Hill Jr. broke into a business — his own place of employment — and stole an estimated $300,000 worth of construction equipment and electronics.
Needing a means to haul away all of the ill-gotten property, Lewis also stole a utility truck, investigators say, later leaving it abandoned after crashing it on Chisholm Road in Pensacola.
The vehicle had been doused with gasoline, although there were no signs of fire.
Lewis might have gotten away save for one small problem — he was wearing a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of his release on bond for a previous aggravated assault charge.
Investigators were able to place him inside the business at the time of the burglary and at the site where the truck was found, according to the ECSO.
A search of Lewis’ home resulted in the recovery of all of the stolen items, other than the truck.
Lewis, 39, is now held without bond at the Escambia County Jail, charged with burglary, vehicle theft, criminal mischief, larceny, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and obstruction of justice.