Man arrested for stealing $17,000 of equipment from office in Crown Pointe

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lionel Lamont Reed, 38, was arrested yesterday on a warrant for burglary, grand theft over $10,000, petit theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, possession of a stolen credit card, and property damage after allegedly breaking into a business through a glass door, stealing $17,000 of equipment, and later using a stolen credit card to make purchases.

The business, located in the Crown Pointe office park off NW 16th Boulevard, was burglarized at about 10:15 p.m. on July 24. The responding Gainesville Police Department officer found that the front glass door of the business had been broken, and the business had been ransacked. Surveillance cameras reportedly showed a black man with distinctive tattoos who was wearing a ski mask and gloves and placing items in a backpack.

During the same incident, a small safe was stolen from the business, and a credit card from the safe was reportedly later used at a gas station and also in an attempted purchase of over $500 in gift cards from Walmart. Video surveillance from Walmart reportedly shows Reed attempting the purchase, including images of the distinctive tattoos.

A search of law enforcement databases revealed that the tattoos were the same as those listed for Reed.

Reed has juvenile criminal convictions and eight adult misdemeanor convictions (none violent). Judge Walter Green set bail at $85,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.