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By TIMES WIRES
Published December 28, 2006

PENSACOLA

GOOD SAMARITAN EASES STING OF STOLEN BICYCLES

When the bikes Dennis and Tamie Leporin bought themselves for Christmas to ride with their young son disappeared from their front lawn, the couple posted a sign to let the thieves know their disappointment. "I hope U crooks enjoy our bikes U stole; Merry X-Mas," the sign read. The next evening the couple heard a knock at their door and found an envelope with $200 inside. A pickup truck was driving away. "Inside was a note that read, 'For every crook, there are 1,000 good people,' " Dennis Leporin told the Pensacola News Journal. "I thought it was awesome. We moved here from St. Louis, and folks just don't do that in St. Louis." Tamie Leporin said she and her husband were concentrating so much on the theft that they forgot about the true meaning of Christmas, until they were reminded by the kindness of strangers. "We just wish there was some way we could thank them," she said.

OCALA

Deputies use GPS to combat theft

The Marion County Sheriff's Office has randomly equipped appliances and other items in homes under construction with global positioning system devices in an effort to combat theft. The $500 GPS devices activate when the items are removed from homes, the Ocala Star-Banner reported. "Construction theft has become a bigger problem than ever before," sheriff's Capt. Jimmy Pogue said. "We're hoping this effort will lead to more arrests." According to incident reports, saws, doors, shingles, cement mixers, front-end loaders, trees and bulldozers have been snatched from homes under construction. Deputies have responded to more than 200 reports of construction thefts this year. Deputies started affixing stickers to appliances and other items a few months ago that warned of possible GPS tracking equipment. They have only a few devices now, Pogue said, but would like more.

MIAMI

13 die in crashes during holidays

Thirteen people have died in eight traffic crashes during the 72-hour Christmas holiday period, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Ten of the fatalities occurred at night, and the crashes were classified as not alcohol related. Of the 13 deaths, one was a pedestrian and two were riding motorcycles. Six people killed while in cars were not wearing seat belts. Last year, 19 fatal crashes occurred during the holiday period, which started Saturday and ended at midnight Monday.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Deputy charged in bar scuffle

A Broward County sheriff's deputy was arrested on allegations of stomping on a patron's head at a bar in October and then falsifying the police report, authorities said Wednesday. Deputy Lazaro Mesa was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with aggravated battery, professional misconduct and falsifying record. He was freed on a $10,000 bond the same day. Witnesses, who were at J.B.'s Landing bar in Deerfield Beach on Oct. 30, said Mesa stomped on patron Anthony Monaco's head twice while trying to restrain him. Monaco then became unconscious and was bleeding from his head, the police report said. Security guards dragged Monaco outside to Mesa's car and paramedics took him to a hospital shortly after, the report said. Mesa was suspended without pay, said Elliot Cohen, a sheriff's spokesman.

Times wires

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 06:02:34]