- December 4, 2025
Jan. 17
The old ‘tap and run’ trick
8:00 p.m. — First Block of West Granada Boulevard. Grand Theft and Battery. The victim said he was sitting at his table at a restaurant with a group of friends when the suspect approached.
The suspect tapped him on the shoulder, so he turned away from the table. When he turned back, he saw that the suspect had grabbed his wallet, which had been on the table.
The suspect then ran out of the building with the victim and his friends in pursuit. He ultimately outran them.
A waitress said she saw the suspect commit the crime and she knew him as a coworker. The manager said the suspect was an employee who was fired just before the incident for concealing a customer’s purse, but not taking anything.
The victim said the wallet is worth $270 and contained $100 in cash, five Visa credit cards and one Master Card. He canceled the cards and found that one was already used at a gas station in Holly Hill for $15.
Charges were filed against the suspect. An attempt to contact was made at his mother’s house but police were told he no longer lived there.
Jan. 22
Drone flies unfriendly skies
12:42 p.m. — First Block of Pergola Place. Suspicious Incident. A special agent of the Federal Aviation Administration contacted police, requesting information about three incidents.
In the first incident, police were called by the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport manager in reference to a drone helicopter flying in airport airspace.
The officer contacted the suspect at his residence who was flying the drone at the time. The officer explained the FAA regulations.
The drone was a quad-copter with dimensions of two-by-two feet and one-foot tall. It cost about $1,800, according to the suspect.
The second incident was for the same complaint. When the officer arrived, the suspect was not flying the drone and disputed the complaint. He said his drone is not programmed to fly at heights to be in violation of FAA regulations. He asked the phone number of the airport manager.
The third call was made by a neighbor. He said the suspect was flying the drone around the neighborhood with a camera attached.
When the officer arrived, the suspect said he was flying the drone around, but without any intent to spy on his neighbors.
The officer viewed the drone and saw that it had a Go-Pro camera attached to the bottom.
The officer explained the state statute on voyeurism and the suspect said he understood. The officer relayed the information to the FAA agent.
Jan. 23
‘FPL’ scam unsuccessful
10:29 a.m. — 200 Block of Divison Avenue. Suspicious Incident. The victim said she received a call at her business in reference to an FPL bill. The caller said her lights would be turned off at her business if she did not pay her bill in 15 minutes. She told the caller she was sure she already paid.
The caller said she never paid and she needs to pay $415.34 immediately. The victim said she would pay.
The caller said she could not make the payment over the phone and she should go to an address on North Yonge Street. The caller said she would get a confirmation number and should call back with that number.
She then called FPL and they informed her it was a scam.
The officer did not find a building with the North Yonge Street address. He told the victim it was a fake address and the call was probably only part of a scam. He called the numbers left by the callers and did not get an answer.
