Florida man tries to cover up burglary he committed by reporting it to 911, deputies say

SUMMERFIELD, Fla. — A Marion County man was arrested this week on charges he burglarized his neighbor’s home and then reported the break-in to 911 in an attempt to cover up the crime, investigators said.

Jefferey Allen Dove, 27, is accused of committing the crime while the homeowner was in the hospital for five days, officials said.

When the victim returned to his home in Summerfield, he found computers, jewelry and a set of leather snake-head bracelets missing, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.

The homeowner started asking his neighbors if they had seen anything.

After telling Dove what had been taken, the man returned the snake-head bracelets the next day, saying he’d bought them from someone in the neighborhood, investigators said.

When deputies looked into the case further, they realized Dove had called 911 on Jan. 8 to report the victim’s home was unsecured.

A deputy responded to the residence in the 4900 block of SE 148th Place, met with Dove, secured the home and left, the sheriff’s office said.

A neighbor told the victim that he had surveillance video from the time of the burglary that shows a man entering and leaving the home several times, investigators said.

The victim identified the man in the video as Dove, deputies said.

When investigators interviewed Dove, he denied taking anything from the home.

He was arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft.

He was being held at the Marion County Jail in lieu of a $7,000 bond.

Cox Media Group