A man was arrested in Florida for allegedly stealing Smokey Bear signs and attempting to sell them on Facebook Marketplace. The suspect reportedly listed the signs for $1,900 each. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced the arrest on social media, stating, "What happens when dumb criminals poke the bear?"

The suspect traveled from Pensacola to Orlando, taking the signs from state forests. Simpson expressed gratitude to Smokey Bear for assisting in the arrest. The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed, and he was taken to jail following his apprehension.

Simpson indicated that the suspect could face jail time, although formal charges are still pending. He remarked, "Smokey is always around our forest and just got lucky today that he saw the bad guy and got him handcuffed. What an idiot, what an idiot."

Simpson emphasized the significance of Smokey Bear, stating, "[Smokey] goes to schools, he’s known by our children, he’s known by our families, he is known throughout the United States. Who goes and steals an image of Smokey the Bear and then tries to profit off of that?"

The state has intensified its efforts to prevent forest fires, which destroyed 24,000 acres last year. The Agriculture Department's law enforcement division conducted controlled burns on 277,000 acres and invested $93 million in upgraded equipment. Smokey Bear has been deployed to educate residents on fire prevention.

Simpson warned potential criminals, saying, "If you’re going to go in and commit crimes in our forests, you probably need to find a different place. Not only will you find smoke in some of those forests, but you’ll find our car officers. We’re the most pro-law enforcement state in the union. Smokey Bear is on the job also."