Florida keeps cranking out criminals who defy all logic.
The Sunshine State's reputation for bizarre crime continues to grow.
And a Florida man used one trick that left police laughing and shaking their heads.
Lake City robbery suspect went full streaker mode during heist
Police in Lake City, Florida responded to a robbery call at BJ's Meat Market on December 23 around 8:50 p.m.
Store employees gave officers a description that would become the talk of the nation.
The suspect walked into the business completely naked except for a mask covering his face.
He had a piece of cloth wrapped around something in his hand that employees believed was a weapon.
The naked bandit broke into the store's cash box and stuffed more than $1,000 into — well, nobody knows where since he didn't have any pockets.¹
Then he bolted out the door as fast as his bare feet could carry him.
Cops tracked down the birthday suit burglar within minutes
Lake City Police Department officers established a perimeter and started searching for a nude man running through town.
You'd think that would be an easy suspect to spot.
https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/2006058858813194633?s=20
Police found evidence along his escape route including clothing items and other property they believed connected to the crime.²
Officers quickly located 24-year-old Kobe Watkins and took him into custody.
He was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation before being booked into the Columbia County Detention Center.
Watkins faces charges of armed robbery, exposure of sexual organs, grand theft, and criminal mischief.³
"Incidents like this are unsettling, but our officers responded quickly, secured the scene, and worked with our partners to identify and arrest the suspect," Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler said in a statement.⁴
No one was injured during the bizarre incident.
The whole thing played out so fast that Watkins barely made it far from the store before police nabbed him.
Florida keeps earning its reputation for the weirdest criminals
This naked robbery attempt joins a long list of head-scratching Florida crimes in 2025.
Earlier this year, a Chuck E. Cheese mascot got arrested mid-shift at a Tallahassee location when police charged him with credit card theft and fraud.
Kids watched their favorite character getting handcuffed.⁵
https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1948444483328377281?s=20
A Pasco County man cooked his pet peacocks to spite a neighbor who had been feeding them against his wishes.⁶
Another Florida man led deputies on a high-speed chase and tried to bribe them with a vodka spritzer during the pursuit.⁷
Florida's public records laws make it easier for journalists to access police reports compared to other states.
That's why so many bizarre "Florida Man" stories hit the news.⁸
But the sheer volume of strange crimes coming out of the Sunshine State suggests there's more to it than just transparent reporting.
The state's size, diverse population, and year-round warm weather create perfect conditions for people to do incredibly stupid things.
Watkins managed to combine public nudity, armed robbery, and getting caught almost immediately into one spectacularly bad decision.
¹ WCJB TV20, "Naked man arrested for robbing meat market, Lake City Police say," December 29, 2025.
² Lake City Police Department, Press Release, December 29, 2025.
³ Columbia County Detention Center Booking Records, December 23, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ CBS12 News, "Florida Man year in review: Clowns, Chuck E. Cheese, Batman greatest hits of 2025," December 29, 2025.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Oxygen True Crime, "Why Are There So Many Bizarre 'Florida Man' Stories, Anyway?," July 17, 2024.
