PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County Sheriff’s Street Crimes Unit set up a “bait bicycle” sting operation in Port Charlotte on Thursday and arrested a couple with a baby in their van. Arrested was Robert William Isaacs, 28, and his girlfriend, Jaime Melissa Wyatt, 36, both of the 1500 block of Beacon Drive, Port Charlotte. CCSO conducted a bicycle theft operation due to an increase in recent bike thefts. A BMX bicycle was set up at the corner of Whidden Boulevard and Janice Avenue in the Charlotte Harbor area. Deputies and detectives set up an undercover surveillance of the bicycle from an unmarked vehicle. At 10:14 a.m., a green 1996 Ford Aerostar van drove by very slowly, made a U-turn, and then pulled into the CircleK parking lot. Both occupants were looking around to see if anyone was watching and then drove toward the bike. Isaacs got out about 20 feet from the bait bike, picked it up, and put in the back of their van. When they drove off with the bike, backup units converged and stopped the van.

Inside were Wyatt, the driver, Isaacs, and a 14-month-old baby in a car seat. Both were placed under arrest for grand theft. Isaacs and Wyatt both said they drive around and pick bikes up all the time. Wyatt was allowed to call a relative to respond to the scene and take custody of her baby. On the phone she said, “They were doing a bike sting today and we just got caught.” The Department of Children and Families was notified. Both were taken to the Charlotte County Jail and each posted a $2,500 bond and was released.