Two Auburndale residents got themselves into big trouble in the little city of Bradenton Beach in July.
Mitchell Sylvester, 18, and Tiffany Maltbie, 19, were both charged with three counts of grand theft, one count of petit theft and a count of burglary of an unoccupied structure July 5 after picking through unattended belongings on the beach.
One of the unattended bags they came across on the beach contained keys to a nearby rental unit. The teens used the keys to enter the unit, but were caught in the act when the victims returned from the beach.
Sylvester took off on foot, and the victim chased him for 3 miles before he came to a halt in the 1800 block of Gulf Drive North, where Bradenton Beach Police officers arrested him.
Sylvester and Maltbie were taken to the Manatee County jail.
It was reported Sylvester and Maltbie had taken several items, including a purse, prescription drugs, credit cards, cellphones and more than $600 in cash.
Both suspects pleaded no contest to the charges during an Aug. 14 court appearance.
Sylvester received 36 months probation, requiring him to submit to random urinalysis, and he must repay $1,050 in reparations to victims, in addition to court-imposed costs.
Maltbie received 36 months of probation, 50 hours of community service and must repay $1,050 to the victims as well.
Sylvester also is facing a misdemeanor trespassing charge that occurred in Holmes Beach earlier July 5.
In the HBPD affidavit filed with the Manatee County Judicial Center, two people were spotted trespassing by a caretaker of a home in the 2900 block of Avenue E in Holmes Beach. Sylvester was identified by officers and charged with trespassing.
He entered a plea of not guilty to the trespassing charge at his Aug. 7 arraignment. He has a pre-trial conference hearing set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.