An Ocala man with prior theft convictions was arrested several days after he allegedly stole fencing from a local business.
On Tuesday, November 26, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to Hughes Heating & Air located at 3970 S Pine Avenue in reference to a burglary incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with an employee who provided video surveillance footage, according to the arrest report.
The deputy observed that at around 9 p.m. on November 26, the footage showed a man – later identified as 32-year-old Cody West Lull – approaching the business while riding a bicycle. Lull then proceeded “onto the curtilage of the property” before allegedly stealing a short piece of fencing that was valued at $20.
Lull then left the area in an unknown direction, and law enforcement was unable to locate him.
Three days later, at around 3:30 a.m. on November 29, the business reported that three small sections of fencing ($75 value) had been stolen. After reviewing video surveillance footage, the deputy observed a male suspect who “appeared to be the same person in both cases.”
That same day, at around 9:40 p.m., an MCSO corporal observed Lull riding a bike in the 3100 block of SE 52nd Street. The report stated that Lull was wearing the same clothing that was seen in the security video footage.
Lull was detained by the corporal. After being read his Miranda rights, Lull initially denied stealing the fencing, though he eventually admitted to taking the fencing so he could “put in his yard,” according to the report.
The corporal responded to Lull’s home and searched the yard, which is where Lull allegedly claimed to have kept the stolen fencing. However, the report stated that the corporal was unable to locate it.
While speaking with law enforcement, Lull allegedly described the stolen fencing as “a short piece of fencing that appeared to be left over remnants of a roll.”
A criminal history search of Lull revealed that he was previously convicted of grand theft in Marion County in October 2007, April 2008, and March 2009.
Lull was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $15,000 bond. He is being charged with two counts of burglary of a dwelling, structure, or conveyance and two counts of second-degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense).
On Tuesday, December 31, Lull is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., according to jail records.