ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A local man is behind bars after St. Petersburg police say he burglarized a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Tuesday and broadcast his criminal activity live on social media.
Officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department arrested 28-year-old Marcus Dewayne Thorne following an investigation into a break-in at the fast-food establishment located on 34th Street North. Authorities were alerted to the incident after staff arriving for their morning shift discovered signs of forced entry and realized that cash and equipment had been tampered with.
According to a police spokesperson, the investigation moved quickly once detectives discovered a video circulating online. The footage, which appeared to be filmed by the suspect himself, showed a man inside the closed restaurant after hours. In the video, the individual can be seen navigating the kitchen, opening registers, and making light of the situation as he rummaged through the premises. Investigators say the suspect’s decision to document his own crime provided them with clear evidence that led to a rapid identification.
“It is certainly not common for suspects to provide us with a play-by-play of their criminal activity,” said a department representative. “In this case, the footage made our work significantly easier, allowing us to track down the individual and take him into custody within hours of the initial report.”
Police apprehended Thorne later Tuesday afternoon at a nearby residence. He has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and petty theft. As of Wednesday morning, he remained in custody at the Pinellas County Jail, awaiting a bond hearing.
The incident has caused minor disruptions to the restaurant’s operations, as managers worked throughout the day to secure the building and assess the extent of the damage. No employees were inside the building at the time of the break-in, and there were no reports of injuries resulting from the incident.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is using the incident as a reminder of the dangers of social media “clout-chasing” during illegal activities. They noted that digital breadcrumbs, such as videos and geotagged posts, have become an increasingly vital tool for modern crime-fighting.
“If you commit a crime, the digital footprint you leave behind will follow you,” officials stated. “Whether it’s a security camera or your own smartphone, the evidence is almost always there.”
The investigation into the break-in remains ongoing, and detectives are looking into whether the suspect is linked to any other recent commercial burglaries in the surrounding area. The police department is encouraging anyone with further information regarding the case to contact them through their non-emergency line or submit an anonymous tip through the local Crime Stoppers program.
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