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Check cracks playground theftBy Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- William Edward Carter has been arrested more than 16 times in Hillsborough County since 1995, mostly on charges related to burglaries. Logic would follow that Carter, 43, would be experienced at unloading stolen property. Instead, authorities said Tuesday, he and his girlfriend, Rachelle Ruiz, 40, sold some stolen playground equipment to a consignment shop, collected their $350 check made out to Rachelle Ruiz and cashed it at a local bank using identification. It didn't take authorities long to track the couple to Apt. 205 at 3602 Landings Way in Tampa and arrest them, which happened Tuesday. Officials said Carter and Ruiz stole the equipment the night of June 20 or early June 21 from Kids Zone, a day care center on Linebaugh Avenue in north Tampa. They took the equipment to a Kids Korner, a consignment shop in south Tampa, and sold it to store owner Jill Allen. The next day, Allen got a call from a friend who had heard about the theft on the radio. Allen then called the day care center and asked workers to describe the equipment they'd lost. Sure enough, it was a match. The stolen equipment was returned to its rightful owner. Then all detectives had to do was wait for a bank to cash Allen's check and track the couple to their apartment. Both have been charged with grand theft, burglary and dealing in stolen property. Additionally, Carter has been charged with grand theft auto and criminal mischief. He is being held without bail. Ruiz remained in jail Tuesday in lieu of $15,000 bail.
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