Smokey Bear Busts $1,900 Sign Thief in Orlando Park Stakeout

Smokey Bear, Florida’s wildfire mascot, ambushed a $1,900 sign thief in Orlando after the suspect trekked from Pensacola to swipe and resell mascot cutouts—answering top searches like “Who owns Smokey Bear signs?” and “How much are park signs worth?” Commissioner Wilton Simpson posted, “Big thank you to @smokey_bear for personally assisting in the arrest.”
After Smokey’s “paw-sonal” involvement in the sign sting, officials revealed the suspect’s Facebook Marketplace listings, fueling queries like “How are stolen park signs tracked?” and “What happens if you steal from Florida state parks?” The culprit imagined a world where forest mascots made house calls—until the bear showed up in person.
Each stolen Smokey Bear sign was brazenly priced at $1,900 online—enough to buy 760 fire prevention posters, or perhaps one deeply disappointed bear costume.