Thief Found Rummaging In Lakeland Barn Helps Himself To Whisky

He drank about half the Crown Royal during the burglary — and then resisted arrest, the sheriff says.

A Lakeland burglar took the time to help himself to a drink, police said.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on X, at around 12:35 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, a resident on Crews Lake Drive in Lakeland reported a suspicious man in her barn rummaging through her property.

Deputies arrived and caught the man; he was identified as 42-year-old Matthew Von Glahn, the sheriff said.

It was discovered that while Von Glahn was in the resident’s barn, he helped himself to her Crown Royal whisky and drank about half of it during his burglary, Judd said.

According to the sheriff, Von Glahn was uncooperative and resisted arrest. He was ultimately arrested and taken to the sheriff’s processing center, where he was charged with burglary, petty theft, and resisting without violence, Judd said.

In addition, another burglary had been reported about 1,000 feet away at a residence under construction, the sheriff said.

During that crime, electrical wiring had been cut in the residence, causing about $1,500 worth of damage, the sheriff said.

Detectives were able to find evidence that showed Von Glahn was involved in both crimes; he was additionally charged with burglary of a dwelling, and felony criminal mischief, the sheriff said.