PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A 21-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing fishing equipment in Palatka worth thousands, then trying to sell it, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook Tuesday.
The sheriff's office said in a post on its Facebook page that on Friday, officers with the Palatka Police Department responded to 100 Memorial Pkwy. in Palatka in reference to "multiple burglaries to vehicles and boats that were on the property."
Police say the fishing equipment reported stolen is believed to be worth approximately $20,000.
"Detectives on Dec. 16 discovered a large amount of fishing equipment listed for sale on social media," the sheriff's office said in the post. "The items listed in the sales add matched the equipment which had been stolen. Through the investigation, it was determined the suspect was selling the equipment from within an apartment complex located in East Palatka."
The sheriff's office says a "joint operation" was then formed between the police department and sheriff's office, as undercover detectives "contacted the suspect who was later identified as Andrea Walker Jr. 21 of Palatka and made arrangements to purchase some of the fishing equipment."
When detectives met with Walker, the post states they identified the stolen property prior to purchase and that Walker was arrested. A "large quantity" of the stolen fishing equipment was recovered at the apartment following Walker's arrest, according to the sheriff's office.
The post says Walker is charged with multiple counts of dealing in stolen property and is being held at the Putnam County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
"The burglaries are still under investigation and additional charges are forth coming," the post states. "Anyone who may have additional information is asked to contact the Palatka Police Department at 386-329-0115 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477."
