LAKELAND, Fla. – A north Lakeland man’s short walk with his cat on October 6th turned into an unusual burglary after a thief swapped his own bicycle for the victim’s $5,000 model.
The incident occurred near Socrum Loop Road when the victim briefly left his garage door open. Upon returning, he discovered his high-value bicycle was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar bike abandoned in his neighbor’s driveway—a clear indication the thief had arrived on their own wheels before upgrading.
Quick Recovery and Arrest
Later the same day, a sharp-eyed Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the stolen bicycle being ridden on US 98 near Maple Street. The deputy quickly moved to stop the rider, using his patrol vehicle’s public address (PA) system to order the suspect to dismount and get on the ground.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Ray Stillwell of Lakeland, complied with the deputy’s commands and was taken into custody without further incident…