A Plant City man is behind bars after deputies said he used a stolen truck to steal an ATM Tuesday night.
Deputies say Eric Chiaramonte, 32, stole a truck, then drove it to the EZ Food Mart on Knights Station Road in Lakeland, where he then stole an ATM in a smash-and-grab burglary.
Chiaramonte was eager to get to the cash inside, so he pulled over to the side of the road so he could try to bust it open, deputies said.
Several people drove by while this was happening and called 911. Deputies who were already investigating the burglary responded to the area of Knights Station and Taylor roads, where Chiaramonte was last seen.
Chiaramonte then fled from the scene on foot and stole a second truck, in which he tried to flee officers.
Polk deputies teamed up with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to locate Chiaramonte, who had fled into Hillsborough County in the stolen truck. Chiaramonte ultimately crashed the truck and was arrested by HCSO deputies, officials said.
Chiaramonte was arrested and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, where he is facing several charges.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Chiaramonte was released from state prison in August.