Man steals rug from Gulfport Police Department lobby

On December 19, 2017, at approximately 2:35 p.m., the Gulfport Police Department arrested 52 year old Ralph Eric Cox of Gulfport. Cox was charged with one count of petit larceny. Judge Walker set Cox’s bond at $1,000.

The arrest was in response to a theft occurring in the lobby of the Gulfport Police Department. Cox had traveled to the Gulfport Police Department on December 18, 2017 at approximately 11:50 p.m. Cox had come to give another arrested individual a ride home after their release. While in the lobby, Cox decided to roll up and take a rug with the Gulfport Police Department patch design on it. Cox rolled up the rug and put it in his vehicle. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras within the Gulfport Police Department lobby. After realizing the theft of the rug had occurred, Cox was contacted by phone and advised to return the stolen property. Cox complied and was arrested upon his arrival. During his arrest, Cox apologized for taking the rug stating that he took the rug as a prank.