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News and Investigations
News & Investigations
News Releases and Public Information
Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Dec 13, 2023
Porch pirate caught stealing Amazon packages 13 days before Christmas
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator
Polk County Sheriff's deputies were able to quickly identify and arrest a "porch pirate" who stole packages from a victim's front porch in Winter Haven, thanks to excellent home video footage and a PCSO crime analyst and detective working together to arrest the suspect.
"It's that time of year when porch pirates are most prevalent. If at all possible, have your packages delivered when someone will be home, to a friend or neighbor's home, or to your place of business. If not, invest in a security system that alerts you immediately when someone is on your porch. This prolific thief is probably going to spend Christmas behind bars this year." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
On December 11, 2023, a package theft was reported between 12:00 and 12:30 p.m. in the Sun Ridge Village subdivision in Winter Haven. The suspect followed an Amazon truck and immediately stole the boxes that were delivered to the porch. The victim's surveillance video showed a white female dressed in black walking up to the porch and taking the boxes, then getting into a red truck. The victim then learned that one of his neighbors had an attempted package theft a week prior (with no video).
Click here to see the suspect stealing packages.
The detective reviewed the video and passed it along a crime analyst, who was able to tentatively identify the suspect as Kensley Mott, DOB 12/16/1990, based on her appearance.The detective used that information and found that the victim owns a red truck - the suspect was seen driving a red truck away from the scene. He also learned she works at Hungry Howie's pizza in the Wahneta area of Winter Haven. She was not at work the evening of December 11th, but detectives found her there the following day.
Mott admitted to the thefts, saying that she was planning on re-gifting the stolen items at Christmas. She was taken into custody without incident.
Mott's criminal history includes arrests dating back to 2016 for petit theft, grand theft, and narcotics possession.
Mott was booked into the Polk County Jail for grand theft (F3), felony petit theft (3rd or subsequent offense) (F3), and two counts burglary of a dwelling (F2).