[PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook: Eustis Police Department]
[Original Publish Date: 10/16/20]
EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department is investigating the theft of more than $1,000 worth of items from Planet Fitness Oct. 9, according to an incident report.
Around 8 p.m. an employee at Planet Fitness, 2830 South Bay Street, went into a storage room and found a back door open and the door’s alarm on the ground. He noticed numerous items missing, including cleaning supplies, yoga mats, corn hole frames and multiple cases of water, Gatorade and Muscle Milk totaling just over $1,100, the report states.
EPD spoke with a second employee who told them he was in the room around 5 p.m. the same day and “everything appeared to be OK.” Police checked surveillance video from a nearby business, but it did not pick anyone up, according to the report.
This is the second burglary in just under five months; in May, Dustin Page Dailey, who was listed as homeless on an arrest affidavit, was arrested for burglary and petit theft after video surveillance showed a naked Dailey walking around the gym while it was closed due to COVID-19. A manager found numerous footprints and handprints on a wall and a disturbed ceiling tile on May 21; she also found an empty bottle of Muscle Milk and an open granola bar and called Eustis Police.
The manager and police reviewed surveillance video and Dailey was seen going through items on the reception desk and walking around a corner to the lounge area. He was not picked up on any other cameras, the arresting officer noted in the arrest affidavit and the only other way to the employee office was through the ceiling. The officer investigated and was able gain entry through the ceiling with a ladder and found an empty beer can and cup and the dust was disturbed with handprints and footprints, indicating someone has recently been in the ceiling, according to that affidavit.
Later the same day, an officer familiar with Dailey spotted him waling near Mt. Homer Road and David Walker Drive and he was arrested when the officer found the pattern on his sandals matched the footprints at the burglary.
In September, Dailey pleaded guilty to the charges, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records. He was sentenced to one year of probation.
If you have information on the latest burglary, call EPD at 352-357-4121.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
