HOLIDAY, Fla.- A man drove away from a Pasco County school with equipment that did not belong to him.
School staff initially send out a plea for help hoping someone could recognize the man caught on camera stealing $700 worth of snorkeling equipment, including ten sets of snorkels and fins meant for mostly low-income students to enjoy and learn about nature.
Immediately following a field trip, staff from Web of Wisdom dropped the 50-pound duffle bag full of snorkeling equipment to dry. But it was not until days later, after checking their surveillance cameras, they realized the bag was not missing -- it was stolen.
“I can’t imagine a rational person who would come into a school and pick up a random bag and take off with it," said school owner Nathaniel Pauley. “It just hurts because it’s something that I’ve invested so much of my personal time and sweat into that for someone to walk off with it. I don’t know. It’s just disgusting."
The stranger drove into the Web of Wisdom property in a white Chevy about 30 minutes after closing hours. Pauley says the man is no parent and an unfamiliar face to school staff.
You can see the man check the door of an adjacent church but it is locked so he makes off toward another building. He gets in his car and drives away but then parks it when he spots the bag.
There is some good news. Around 11:00 p.m. Sunday night the snorkling equipment was returned to its owner.
