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Pinellas police blotter: Serial burglar done in by his stomach

 
Published July 30, 2014

Crumbs, DNA left behind after appetite is fed

A suspected serial burglar has his stomach to blame for his recent arrest.

Derrick Steven Moore, 40, of Clearwater is facing nine charges of burglary, attempted burglary and grand theft.

Pinellas sheriff's deputies on July 22 charged him in connection with a burglary in the 1300 block of Keene Road on April 17. In that case, he removed an air-conditioning unit from a home and entered through the opening, deputies said.

Once inside, he gathered jewelry and electronics, but also helped himself to food and drink from the refrigerator. Deputies said he left behind DNA on the utensils, which was later matched to him.

On May 5, Moore entered a home in the 1500 block of Lake Avenue in Largo, police said. He took about $1,500 in clothing, electronics and food. However, he left behind his jacket, which police said was "soiled" with cake that Moore had eaten and spilled inside the home.

A test of the cake-smeared jacket also found Moore's DNA, arrest reports state.

Why those items? There's no real reason

A St. Petersburg man accused of stealing more than $400 from a St. Petersburg Walmart should at least get some recognition for honesty.

Michael John Farrell, 27, was arrested July 24 after he tried to leave the store, at 3501 34th St. S, without paying for the items.

When questioned by police, Farrell said he didn't need any of the stuff. "He advised he is a klepto and doesn't have a good reason why he took the items," an arrest report states.

Farrell is charged with grand theft.

If at first you don't succeed . . .

St. Petersburg police say they have arrested a wildly unsuccessful robber.

On July 24, David James Basta, 29, tried to steal a woman's purse, and to steal money from the register at a local Starbucks. He failed at both.

The purse-snatch attempt occurred about 2:25 p.m. that day at 300 Third St. S. Basta tried to take the purse from a woman in a parking lot, but the woman wouldn't give it up and Basta ran away, arrest reports state.

At about the same time, Basta walked into a nearby Starbucks, went behind the counter and pushed the barista out of the way. However, he couldn't get the register open and ran off, arrest reports state.

Basta was soon arrested. He told officers he "owed someone money and would be harmed if he did not come up with the money in some way," arrest reports state.

Compiled by Times staff writer Chris Tisch