A Tampa woman was arrested Friday after allegedly swiping a Red Bull box truck during a delivery and sending deputies on a multicounty pursuit. Investigators say the truck was taken from a gas station on East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, then tracked heading east on I‑4 toward Lakeland. No injuries were reported, and the driver now faces a felony grand theft auto charge.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the gas station where the truck was making a delivery when someone took off with it. The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as 33‑year‑old Nicole Schular and said deputies later located the vehicle and took her into custody.
🚨Runaway Red Bull Truck Returned🚨 A woman is in custody after stealing a Red Bull box truck and leading deputies across multiple counties. #teamHCSO responded to a gas station on East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tampa, where the truck was making a delivery. https://x.com/i/status/2052833459320557856
— HCSO (@HCSOsheriff) May 8, 2026
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office post states that “a woman is in custody after stealing a Red Bull box truck and leading deputies across multiple counties.” The agency says its aviation unit tracked the truck as it moved east on I‑4 toward Lakeland, with Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeland Police Department assisting, and that Schular was charged with grand theft auto and is being held in custody.
How deputies tracked the truck
Aerial units give deputies a bird’s‑eye view of highway traffic and help coordinate ground units without drawn‑out high‑speed chases. In this incident, information from the aviation unit allowed officers across county lines to converge on the area and recover the truck safely, officials say.
Charges and next steps
The sheriff’s office says Schular, 33, is facing a grand theft auto charge, with booking to be processed through the Hillsborough County jail. Prosecutors with the State Attorney's Office will review the investigation before deciding whether to file any additional charges.
Officials note that the case underscores the risks when commercial vehicles are left unattended during deliveries and the coordination required when a rolling theft crosses jurisdictional lines. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
