04-04-2025
St. Pete man gets gun back after suspected thief responds to Facebook post
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was reunited with his stolen firearm after the perpetrator saw a Facebook post about the missing firearm and messaged him directly.
According to an affidavit, around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday a black bag was stolen from a property located on 30th Avenue North.
The man accused of stealing it, Roberth Alexander Arroyave, 44, allegedly took the black bag which was placed on a vehicle parked in the driveway of that address.
The affidavit said that surveillance video captured Arroyave grabbing the bag and heading to his car.
Arroyave later noticed a post on Facebook by the victim about the stolen bag which was carrying his firearm.
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The affidavit said that after observing the post on Facebook, Arroyave messaged the victim informing him that he had taken the bag and the firearm.
The bag and firearm were returned to the victim but, according to the affidavit, his ID's, credit, and debit cards were not returned.
St. Petersburg police arrested Arroyave after identifying him based on his tattoos which were located on both arms and visible in the video.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has charged him with grand theft and possession of a firearm by a felon.
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