Lakeland Man Arrested for Grand Theft of Work Truck
Polk County deputies arrested a 46-year-old Lakeland man after he allegedly refused to return a company-owned truck following his dismissal from a concrete job.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Property Crime
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Polk County deputies arrested Ricky Lee Gilbert, 46, of Lakeland, for grand theft of a motor vehicle after he allegedly kept a company work truck following his termination. The Lakeland Police Department received a stolen vehicle report from the employer on Nov. 1, and the truck was returned to the employer after the arrest.
Why it matters
The case highlights the importance of employers recovering company property promptly when workers are dismissed, and shows how quickly a stolen vehicle report can lead to an arrest. For Lakeland residents, it is a reminder that unreturned work vehicles can be reported to police.
Gilbert was booked at the Sheriff's Processing Center on a grand theft of a motor vehicle charge after deputies stopped the truck off Farmer Brown Road without incident. Court dates, bail terms, and any further charges have not been reported.
The players
Polk County Sheriff's Office
The Florida county law enforcement agency whose deputies stopped the vehicle and arrested Gilbert, operating the Sheriff's Processing Center where he was booked.
Lakeland Police Department
The municipal police agency that received the stolen vehicle report from Gilbert's employer and serves as the city's primary law enforcement body.
The details
Gilbert was hired Oct. 24 to perform concrete work, missed his first scheduled workday, and was dismissed after working three days following his second-shift arrival. He allegedly refused to return the company-owned truck assigned to him, prompting his employer to report it stolen; a deputy later spotted the vehicle in the Combee Settlement area, known locally as K-Ville.
Timeline
Oct. 24: Gilbert hired to perform concrete work.
Nov. 1: Employer reports the truck stolen to the Lakeland Police Department.
Sunday evening, around 6:50 p.m.: Deputy spots the vehicle and Gilbert is arrested.
Legal Context
Florida's grand theft statute treats the theft of a motor vehicle as a felony regardless of whether the thief had initial access through employment. Cases in which a worker retains an employer's vehicle after dismissal are typically prosecuted under this same framework.
Employers in Lakeland who issue company vehicles can report unreturned property to the Lakeland Police Department promptly, as the employer did here. Residents should be aware that work vehicles not returned after termination may be reported as stolen.
The takeaway
Employers who need a company vehicle returned after dismissal should document the handover and contact police early if it is withheld. Workers should return company property promptly when their employment ends to avoid theft charges.
Further reading
For more local coverage, explore Property Crime reporting from the Lakeland area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tampa Free Press.
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