Two Men Arrested After Getting Stuck in Sand While Attempting Theft at Polk County Construction Site

Photo byPolk County Sheriff's Office

By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews (ISC)

Published October 12th, 2024

Polk County, FL. - Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two men from Winter Garden who found themselves quite literally stuck during a failed theft attempt on Tuesday evening, October 8, 2024. The suspects, identified as 37-year-old Andre Fernandes and 38-year-old Daniel Lima De Andrade, were caught after their U-Haul truck became lodged in the sand at a construction site in the area of US 27 and Sand Mine Road near Davenport.

Around 7:21 pm, deputies responded to a call about a suspicious U-Haul spotted on the property. Upon arrival, they found the truck stuck in the sand with the suspects attempting unsuccessfully to free it. A search of the vehicle revealed stolen items, including various tools, saw horses, gloves, and construction wood taken from the site.

Fernandes and Lima De Andrade were detained and charged with trespassing on a construction site, possession of burglary tools, and petit theft. Given the State of Emergency in effect, each charge carries enhanced penalties.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office noted the ironic twist in the arrests, as the same sand the suspects attempted to traverse ultimately kept them at the scene until deputies arrived. Both men are now lodged in the Polk County Jail.

Photo byiSkyNews