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A man was apprehended by law enforcement with the assistance of Smokey the Bear for stealing Smokey Bear signs across various locations in Florida and then selling them on Facebook Marketplace.
The suspect was advertising the stolen signs on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each, as reported by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
“What happens when foolish criminals provoke the bear?” Simpson stated on social media.
“Our Ag Law Team has a suspect in custody who traveled from Pensacola to Orlando stealing Smoky Bear signs from our state forests and selling them on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each,” he continued. “A big thank you to Smokey the Bear for personally aiding in the arrest.”
The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was taken to jail subsequent to the arrest.
Simpson mentioned that the suspect might face imprisonment, although criminal charges are still pending, according to Fox 13.
“Smokey is always present around our forests and today he was fortunate to see the perpetrator and help in his apprehension,” Simpson informed the outlet. “What a foolish act, what a foolish act.”
“[Smokey] is a familiar figure in schools, known by our children, known by our families, recognized across the United States,” Simpson added. “Who steals an image of Smokey the Bear and then tries to profit from it?”
The state has intensified its efforts to prevent forest fires, which ravaged 24,000 acres last year.
The Agriculture Department, with a law enforcement division, conducted 277,000 acres of controlled burns last year, allocated $93 million for enhanced equipment, and deployed Smokey to educate residents on preventing forest fires, as per Fox 13.
“If you choose to commit crimes in our forests, you might want to reconsider your choice,” Simpson advised the outlet. “Not only will you encounter smoke in some of those forests, but you’ll also meet our law enforcement officers.”
“We are a state that strongly supports law enforcement,” he emphasized. “Smokey Bear is also on duty.”
