A 44-year-old Ocala woman was arrested after she was caught riding a bicycle that she allegedly stole from a local residence weeks earlier.
On Friday, May 30, a female victim contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and reported that her mint green Nishiki Pueblo bicycle had been stolen out of her garage, according to the arrest report.
The victim told deputies that she remembered “leaving her bicycle parked in the garage with the door open throughout the day.” According to the victim’s statement, she went outside when she noticed the theft and found “another dilapidated mint green woman’s bicycle” that was “lying in her front yard.”
The report stated that based on the circumstances, it appeared “obvious” that the suspect in this case had arrived at the victim’s home on the “dilapidated bicycle” before stealing the victim’s “relatively new and valuable bicycle” and “leaving behind (the) old one.”
Deputies canvassed the area and conducted interviews, though the case was “inactivated” less than two weeks later due to “insufficient leads.”
On Wednesday, June 25, an MCSO corporal was in a stopped patrol vehicle, at the intersection of SW Highway 200 and SW 60th Avenue, when a woman – later identified as Valerie Ann Roberts – was observed riding a mint green woman’s bicycle. The corporal noted in the report that the bike had “visible accessories” that appeared to be “identical to the victim’s description” of the stolen bike.
The report stated that the corporal made contact with Roberts and viewed the bike’s serial number, which confirmed that it belonged to the victim. When asked how the bike was obtained, Roberts allegedly stated that she “bought the bike from an unknown friend” and was in possession of it for “approximately two weeks.”
After being read her Miranda rights, Roberts allegedly told the corporal that she knew that the bike was “likely stolen” when she “purchased it.” She was placed under arrest, and a purse she was carrying was searched.
In Roberts’ purse, two glass pipes and a jar containing a white crystal-like substance were allegedly found. According to the report, both the crystal substance and residue located inside the pipes tested positive for methamphetamine.
Roberts was booked into Marion County Jail, where she is currently being held on bond. She is being charged with petit theft (over $100 but less than $750), dealing in stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A court date for Roberts has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.