Video captures naked man as he steals $25,000 ‘swan,’ cops say

Lakeland is known as "The City of Swans," both real and artistically imagined. Authorities in Polk County are currently trying to track down one of the fiberglass variety, missing after a recent theft.

Polk Sheriff's Office investigators said on May 19 surveillance video recorded Ronald Thompson stealing a pickup truck parked outside Lakeland Cold Storage. The video also shows Thompson was naked while stealing the truck.

In the back of the truck was a black and white swan sculpture, standing about 5 feet tall, worth an estimated $25,000. The owner of the swan told us he and his wife received the swan for a donation they had made, and it had been in their backyard ever since.

Recently, however, the swan's paint was in need of touch-ups. The owner had been transporting the swan in the truck to get estimates on the touch-up work.

Authorities found the stolen truck and Thompson in Hillsborough County, but the swan has yet to be recovered. Thompson is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.

The owners hope someone will spot the missing sculpture and return it soon. Anyone with information about the theft or the missing swan is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

This story was originally published May 26, 2017 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Video captures naked man as he steals $25,000 ‘swan,’ cops say."