PUNTA GORDA — Charlotte County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a man this morning for stealing items June 16 from a rural property east of Punta Gorda. The owner saw a newspaper article about a man arrested previously for stealing items in the same area. The tenant of the property who saw the thief checked the CCSO public website jail bookings, located and identified the suspect. Arrested for burglary and grand theft was Joshua Shane Crider, 31, of the 2700 block of Bailey Avenue, Punta Gorda. The owner of the property in the 5600 block of Bronco Road was out of town, and when he returned, he noticed 15 lead batteries, a welder on a cart, and a heavy duty battery charger missing. His tenant said a man came on the property and was taking the items. The tenant confronted the man, who said the owner gave him permission. The man said his name was James and provided his telephone number. The tenant tried unsuccessfully to contact the property owner to verify, so the man left with the items. He later attempted to call James, but never got a call back.

The owner said he read in the newspaper about a man being in the same area stealing items and scrapping them. His name was Joshua Crider. CCSO had sent out a press release June 13 about the arrest of Crider for stealing a gate and numerous items from a property in the 5400 block of Bronco Road and selling to a recycler. Crider was also arrested June 7 along with three other men for stealing large sheets of steel from a Jones Loop Road construction site. He posted a $60,000 bond for both theft incidents and was released Sept. 9. The owner said he also recognized Crider as a man who had previously been on his property asking if he had any items he could sell for scrap. Detectives located and showed a photo lineup to the tenant witness, who positively identified Crider. Crider was located this morning shortly after midnight. He was arrested and booked into the Charlotte County Jail. He posted a $15,000 bond and was released.