Big Coppitt man charged with vehicle burglary

Several alert neighbors on Big Coppitt Key were instrumental in the arrest of a man for vehicle burglary early last Friday.

Sheriff’s dispatchers received a call from a resident of Avenue G on Big Coppitt Key at 5:30 a.m. He said he’s seen a man on a bicycle in his front yard by his truck. He’d then seen the man ride to a next door neighbor’s house and try the door on his vehicle. When Deputy Valdes arrived on Avenue G, another resident of the street flagged him down to report the man on the bicycle went into his tenant’s vehicle and ransacked the inside. He described the man as a white male wearing a dark green shirt and shorts riding a bicycle.

Deputy Valdes and Sgt. Tom Walker searched the area and found a man fitting the description hiding underneath a set of stairs at a house across from the house where the vehicle burglary took place. He was ordered out of his hiding place. He was identified as 51 year old Robert Ebbitt. Ebbitt said he was in the area looking for a place to sleep.

Ebbitt was arrested. He was charged with burglary and with loitering and prowling. He was booked into jail.

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