A Florida Man has never let us down once in recorded history.
Now a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy showed up to a boat burglary – and found the suspect waiting outside in a full Superman costume.
And James Tidwell pointed at the boat and said he "only took three items" – and that was the end of it.
The Man of Steal Meets His Kryptonite
Florida ranks number one in the United States for watercraft thefts.
Miami-Dade and Broward counties have historically had the highest volume of stolen boats and personal watercraft in the state.
Although Florida leads the nation in thefts, roughly 40% of stolen watercraft are recovered by law enforcement.
https://twitter.com/CrimeTalkNet/status/2082566476599320656?s=20
And that’s what happened recently in Hillsborough County when Super Man attempted to steal a boat.
A boat owner in Ruskin discovered someone had broken into the cabin of a boat moored behind their home and stolen several power tools.
Deputies did their investigative work.
That work led them directly to Tidwell.
He was standing outside in a Superman shirt, red cape, and matching costume when deputies made contact.
“It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Superman?” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a release. “On July 25, 2026, #teamHCSO deputies responded to Ruskin after a boat owner discovered someone had broken into their boat's cabin, anchored right behind their own home, and stolen several power tools.”
“Investigative work led deputies straight to the suspect: James Tidwell, 57, a convicted felon,” a press release continued. “Tidwell confessed and was arrested for Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance and Petit Theft First Degree.”
The body camera footage says everything.
A deputy asks Tidwell if he has any weapons on him.
Tidwell says no.
The deputy explains they are investigating a burglary.
Tidwell points toward the nearby boat and says he went on it – and "only took three items."
Deputy informs him they will be placing him in handcuffs now.
Superman goes quietly.
Convicted Felon, Man of Steel
Here is the detail that makes this more than just a good laugh.
https://twitter.com/WorldWatchGoat/status/2082494728524681278?s=20
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tidwell is a convicted felon.
This is not some eccentric retiree who made a strange decision on a Saturday afternoon.
This is a man with a prior felony record who broke into someone's boat, stole their power tools, and stood outside waiting to be found.
He was charged with felony burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and first-degree petit theft.
Bail was set at $5,500.
He posted it and walked.
Florida Gets It Right
Sheriff Chad Chronister's office did exactly what you want law enforcement to do.
They investigated, identified the suspect, confronted him on camera, and released the footage publicly so the whole country could see it.
Deputies don't chase drama.
They just do the work, document everything, and let the results speak.
And the results here were a convicted felon in a Superman cape confessing the moment a deputy finished explaining why they were there.
https://twitter.com/Channing_TV/status/2082579432527515675?s=20
No standoff, no lawyer, no "I don't know what you're talking about."
Just a man in a red cape pointing at the boat he just robbed.
Florida Man is a cultural institution for a reason – and it's not because the criminals are clever.
Superman is supposed to be faster than a speeding bullet.
This one couldn't outrun a question.
Sources:
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Body Camera Video and Arrest Report, July 25–29, 2026.
- "Man of Steal? Deputies arrest Superman-clad boat burglary suspect," Fox 13 Tampa Bay, July 29, 2026.
- "Florida Man Dressed as Superman Arrested For Burglary," TMZ, July 30, 2026.
- "The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office busts 'Superman' in Ruskin boat burglary case," Yahoo News/Local outlet, July 29, 2026.
