LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLA. (WSVN) - Deputies have arrested one of the women who investigators believe was caught on camera stealing a tip jar from a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea candy store.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said they arrested 24-year-old Brenda Trochez, Friday morning. Deputies say she was one of two women seen on surveillance video Monday walking into Jan’s Homemade Candies, located at 4327 N. Ocean Drive.
After browsing the store, Trochez and the other unidentified woman grabbed the tip jar – which was used to help raise money for wounded veterans, police and fire personnel – next to the cash register.
#Busted: BSO says Brenda Trochez, 24, is the tip jar thief who stole from the famous Jan’s Homemade Candies in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea earlier this week. Picked up this morning after tips came in to store owner, her prior mug shots included. @wsvn #7News @browardsheriff @janscandy pic.twitter.com/yz0JVGflnb
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) August 24, 2018
The shop’s owners, 71-year-old Bob Lendi and 73-year-old Jan Lendi, shared the security footage on their social media accounts. They said they’re happy an arrest has been made.
“I’m happy she’s not gonna be out there doing it to anybody else,” Jan said. “Crime Stoppers and my Facebook page works.”
Trochez has been arrested at least eight times in Broward County since her 18th birthday, according to BSO.
Bob said this latest arrest teaches her a valuable lesson.
“Here’s an opportunity for a person to turn their life around, and the example that she sets may help other people also turn their lives around,” he said. “It’s a far better world to be kind to one another than to do harm to one another.”
The Lendis use proceeds from the tip jar to make chocolate badges of various divisions of the U.S. armed forces.
“If a veteran comes in the store, or a police officer or a fireman, one of the ways that we want to say thank you for serving is by giving them a chocolate treat,” Bob said.
Despite the tip jar being taken, the candy store owners still have a drawer full of the chocolate badges.
The Lendis took the opportunity to thank the BSO deputies who helped solve this case.
BSO said Trochez’s accomplice remains at large.
If you have any information on the second woman involved in this theft, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.