East County man steals TV from neighbor

An East County man stole a flat screen television from the home of a man who lives across the street from him yesterday afternoon.

The 36-year-old suspect popped the rear sliding glass door of his Mill Creek neighbor’s home with a tire iron.

Once inside, he removed a $800 flat screen television, exited the house and placed it into his car.

He then drove the television to a nearby plaza and hid behind a building.

When one of the victims returned home and saw the sliding glass door open, she called the police.

Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies found the culprit — who admitted he has a drug problem — at the plaza and arrested him.

The television was returned to its owner.