Police: Escambia Man Stole Jewelry To Pay His Federal Probation Costs

August 5, 2014

Police say an Escambia County man stole about $140,000 worth items during residential burglaries and sold them in order to pay his federal probation costs.

Michael Collins, 31, was charged with 11 counts of burglary, eight counts of grand theft, three counts of criminal mischief and two counts of petit theft.

The Pensacola Police Department said Collins entered unlocked doors and stole mostly jewelery, along with cash, a laptop and medication, during a series of residential burglaries between June 29 and August 1.

The approximately $140,000 worth of property was mostly sold at the T&W Flea Market, according to police, with Collins using the proceed to pay for his probation costs. He is on federal probation for a bank robbery.

Up to $15,000 worth of stolen items have been recovered by Pensacola Police.

Comments

7 Responses to “Police: Escambia Man Stole Jewelry To Pay His Federal Probation Costs”

  1. pullitman on August 8th, 2014 8:25 am

    He also broke doors to get into houses. I was called to repair a door he broke in a few days and a few blocks away from where the video was shot that was aired on Channel 3. Luckily that home owner did not suffer any loss.

  2. perdido fisherman on August 7th, 2014 12:25 pm

    James Simpson, how do you know Doug attended public school? Some people attend private schools and not everyone has used social services. It is narrow minded of you to assume what someone else may have or may not have received from federal or state goverments
    I understand exactly what you mean Doug. I had my boat stolen and when the police caught the responsible party and he was convicted, The courts were the only ones to be compensated. I never saw my boat or it’s contents again and the court ordered him to pay restitution only to the court. Justice was not served in my case.

  3. James Simpson on August 7th, 2014 5:56 am

    Doug,
    You have been the beneficiary of a free public education, ample social services, a nation of good people willing to help those who have tried to help themselves, untold numbers of jobs programs, 99 Weeks of unemployment insurance, and the list can go on, and on. Prisons don’t fail prisoners, prisoners fail themselves.

  4. Doug Brown on August 6th, 2014 3:05 pm

    From personal experience, the criminal courts do not help victims of crime. They are revenue generators for the government.

  5. bewildered on August 6th, 2014 8:10 am

    Most valuable items priced low by newcomers setting up a table at the T&W flea market are bought up by the regular vendors of that establishment. This happens very early in the morning before the public starts browsing through the isles. People that had items stolen could check out tables and search for their belongings.

  6. Rebecca on August 5th, 2014 7:45 pm

    wow. that amount of stupidity is really incomprehensible.

  7. Bob C on August 5th, 2014 10:30 am

    HA, HA, HA…..add one more to the Stupid Crooks list along with the jokers who stole a car, set fire to it and then returned it to the owner.
    Guess he thought was being “responsible” in paying his probation fees.

    Really Bad that the people burgled lost their priceless and personal things.
    Hope they each press full charges against this guy.

    When this joker starts blaming anyone else he needs only to look into a mirror to find who is truly responsible for his actions.
    Hope the judge holds him without bail.