Video shows man stealing property as crash victim died nearby, police say

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police on Thursday released video of a man who they say stole the belongings of a victim who was struck and killed in a pedestrian crash.

Police said the pedestrian was crossing South Semoran Boulevard Sunday when he was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. The impact of the crash caused several of his belongings to fly onto the sidewalk, police said.

Surveillance video from a  nearby store shows a car driving by, but it stops and a man gets out in the middle of traffic and grabs something on the sidewalk. Moments later, he gets back in the car and takes off.

Orlando police said the person took the pedestrian's belongings -- either a wallet or a cellphone.

[VIDEO: Watch at bottom of story] 

"People have no respect for anything," Marcus Palma said. "They just care about themselves.

Palma, who works at a barbershop across the street, said he heard what happened when he got to work the next day but can't believe what he saw in the video when we showed him.

"He just gets out of the car and keeps it moving. That's heartbreaking right there," Palma said.

Xavier Melendez said people cross South Semoran Boulevard all the time to get to the bus stop or to his barbershop.

"I saw a couple of accidents right here, and especially here, I saw like three accidents," Melendez said.

He said whomever took the man's belongings should turn themselves in.

"He needs to give that back -- the cellphone, the wallet, whatever," Melendez said. "He's stealing something. That's not yours. Give it back. The cops need it. The dude's family needs it."

"We believe this was a horrific act, and it made it difficult for detectives to immediately identify the victim, who died at the scene," an Orlando police representative said.

The victim's name has not been released.

Anyone with information about the man who took the victim's belongings is urged to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.