No Waffles Behind Bars for Belleview Burglar
Sunday brunch at Waffle House took a criminal turn for three diners in Marion County. What started as a hearty meal at the popular eatery ended with a hefty loss totaling nearly $2,000 in stolen property from a pickup truck.
Deputies Sasser and Welfenberg responded to the Waffle House at 2065 SW Highway 484, where they found victims Dillon Manley, Jaclyn Graber, and Tristan Reed in a state of disbelief. As the trio enjoyed their All-Star Specials, thieves targeted Manley’s white Ford F-150 in the parking lot. Reed’s yellow DeWalt fan was the first to go missing, setting off a chain reaction of discovery.
The daring daylight heist, captured on Waffle House’s surveillance cameras, unfolded with the precision of a well-rehearsed act. At 12:14 PM, a gray GMC SUV trailed the victims into the lot, parking beside Manley’s truck. Two suspects, a heavy-set man with distinctive red hair, beard, neck tattoo, and eye piercing, along with a thinner accomplice, initially joined the diners inside before returning to raid the truck.
As the heavy-set suspect with the red beard acted as the lookout, his partner in crime made quick work of lifting items from the truck, including the fan.
Deputy Welfenberg contacted Waffle House Manager Christopher Cooper, who confirmed the theft with video evidence and advised calling the authorities. The video showed the suspects loading stolen goods into their SUV before driving off at 12:31 PM.
Further investigation linked the gray GMC to Anthony Arenas, whose arrest in Sumter County for unrelated charges helped Marion County deputies crack the case. Arenas, identified through high-quality surveillance images, was found at his Belleview home. He confessed to his involvement and fingered his accomplice, whose identity remains under wraps.
Arenas now faces charges of burglary, grand theft, and two counts of petit theft. With no bond set, he was transported to the Marion County Jail, putting an end to his brief but brazen crime spree.
So, next time you’re at Waffle House, keep an eye on your waffles and your wheels.
