Man charged with shoplifting could be connected to other recent crimes, deputies say
A man that deputies believe may be responsible for at least two armed robberies in the past two days was caught after shoplifting at an auto parts store Thursday in Bradenton and was taken into custody, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s office.
Jeffrey L. Kates, 32, was arrested Thursday and charged with armed robbery in connection with an incident that took place at Cricket Wireless, at 5613 15th St. E, on Tuesday. During the robbery, deputies say he entered the business asking about a cell phone and then demanded cash from a store employee at gunpoint. He took an undisclosed amount, along with two cell phones, and fled the store.
Kates was arrested after deputies say he committed grand theft shoplifting on Thursday morning at O’Reilly Auto Parts, at 2805 1st St. E., in Bradenton. Deputies spotted Kates in a suspect vehicle in the 5600 block of 15th St. E. and took him into custody.
He is charged with armed robbery and grand theft and is also a suspect in a 7-Eleven robbery that also took place on Thursday morning at 4451 Tallevast Rd.
Samantha Putterman: 941-745-7027, @samputterman
This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Man charged with shoplifting could be connected to other recent crimes, deputies say."