PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Travis Suomi probably wishes he never made the call. Thanks to Caller ID, police were able to nab the 23-year-old suspect on charges of attempted robbery.

Former St. Lucie County Sheriff C.L. Norwell was awakened by a knock on his door at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 23. Though he had been retired for more than 15 years, Norwell still had his good instincts. Before opening the door, the 78-year-old made certain to tuck a .38-caliber pistol into his bathrobe.

Norwell opened the door and found Suomi, who told the former sheriff that his car had broken down and that he needed help. Norwell handed Suomi a portable phone. Suomi then walked into the front yard to make a call.

When he returned, Suomi asked Norwell for toilet paper. The former sheriff was skeptical, he said, and went inside the house and brought back a roll. Suomi then threw his coat at Norwell and said, "This is a robbery," according to police. But Norwell stayed calm, disclosed his pistol and sent Suomi running into the woods. Norwell then called 911.

Shortly after, Suomi's girlfriend called Norwell's phone and asked to speak to "Travis," whose name had appeared on her Caller ID minutes earlier. Norwell's phone also had Caller ID and noted the phone number the woman was calling from.

The number turned out to be Suomi's home phone number, and he was arrested moments later. Suomi is being held at the St. Lucie county jail on $20,000 bond on a charge of home invasion robbery.

INVERNESS, Fla. — Feeling frustrated with freedom, perhaps, a 48-year-old man allegedly stole a six-pack of beer from a local convenience store and then urged the clerk to call police in hopes that he would return to prison.

Robert Fremer was arrested Jan. 15 after an arriving police officer found him sitting patiently in the parking lot of a Circle K with the stolen six-pack of Busch at his side.

Fremer, a career petty criminal, told police he took the beer because he could not succeed in the world and wanted to go back to jail, according to a spokesman for the Inverness police department.

Fremer is being held at the Citrus County jail on a count of retail petty theft, and he doesn't have plans to leave anytime soon.

On the way to the jail, Fremer asked a officer if he had committed a misdemeanor or a felony. When told it was a misdemeanor, Fremer replied, "Next time I'll have to commit a felony so I can go to prison as soon as I get out of jail," according to the arrest report.

PEORIA, Ariz. — 'Twas months after Christmas and Tony Flores still had not removed the Christmas lights from his home. So police arrested him.

Tony Flores and his wife Angelica were accused of violating a city ordinance last year requiring decorations to be removed 19 days after the holiday. The lights were still up at Easter time, authorities said.

The Floreses say they went to court twice, but disregarded a third court date after they received a letter stating the case had been dismissed. The couple then moved to Glendale, assuming the issue was behind them.

More than a year later, three officers arrived at their home and handcuffed them. The Floreses were charged under local laws, which authorities said are intended to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood.

For a city code violation to reach the criminal stage, the accused must have missed numerous opportunities to address the issue. The Flores ignored repeated citations, according to authorities.

Angelica Flores said the lights stayed up because her husband had been injured at work and she was afraid to climb a ladder to remove them.

The Floreses were fined an undisclosed amount when they appeared in court on Tuesday.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Donald Guthrie was facing criminal charges for robbing a coin-operated laundry when he allegedly held up the M&T Bank in Avis on Jan. 24.

Police said his motive was to stay out of jail.

Guthrie had written a post-dated check to his bail bondsman and was needed money to balance his account, authorities said. So he allegedly stole nearly $9,000 from the bank and then crashed his car into a tree stump during the getaway. An unsuspecting passerby picked him up and drove him home.

Police arrested Guthrie after they viewed a security video from the bank and investigated the accident.

Guthrie, who is now charged with felony armed robbery, theft and receiving stolen property, is not expected to come up with the new $100,000 bail. No court dates have been set.