Restaurant owner uses burglar's truck to escape

[Agustin De Jesus counts the day's receipts today while his son Lorenzo De Jesus watches from behind the counter. Photo by Mike Pease | Times]

LUTZ -- Agustin De Jesus was sleeping on a cot in his restaurant early Monday when he heard an intruder. He saw a man going through the cash register, and fearing for his life, ran out the door.

In the parking lot, according to Pasco sheriff's officials, De Jesus, 47, found a black Ford pickup with its engine running. He had no other transportation, so he got in and headed for his house in Tampa.

Once there, De Jesus called authorities to report the burglary at his restaurant, Rosa's Cafe on Foggy Ridge Parkway.

About the same time, the Sheriff's Office received a call of a stolen pickup. Specifically, a black Ford Ranger.

De Jesus came back to the scene and identified the burglar. Authorities arrested Leonard Levy, a 55-year-old with a long string of felony convictions, several for burglary in central Pasco.

"That's when Levy said, 'Well, that's the guy who stole my truck,'" sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said.

De Jesus was not arrested. "He's the victim," Tobin said.

Levy, shown on right, faces numerous burglary and theft charges. He is being held in the Pasco County Jail in Land O'Lakes with bail set at $75,500.

Molly Moorhead, Times staff writer

[Levy's booking photo provided by Pasco County Sheriff Office]