A Cudjoe Key woman was charged with stealing dive and fishing gear and other items, then pawning them. She said she spent the money on drugs.
On January 25th Deputy Joe Cortner responded to a home on Cutthroat Drive to reports of a theft. The resident of the home said he left home that morning and when he returned several hours later, someone had taken dive and fishing gear along with a hunting bow, Xbox games and some movies from his home. He told the deputy he suspected his girlfriend, 27 year old Christina Whitaker, may have taken them because he said she has a drug problem and is not working.
Detective David Brummer was assigned to investigate. Using the computerized pawn system, he ran a search through recently pawned items and located items matching those stolen. He then interviewed the suspect, who was already in jail on a separate case. She admitted to taking all the items and pawning hem at two local pawn shops. She said she pawned them so she could buy drugs.
Whitaker was charged with five counts each grand theft and violating the pawn act – giving false identification when pawning items.