A Key West man who has served time in prison for auto burglary is heading back after committing more break-ins

KEY WEST, September 23, 2019 – Carlos Solis, 41, pleaded no contest on September 12 to two counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, three counts of felony theft and one count of burglary. He also admitted to violating probation in two other cases. Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed down a sentence of 52.275 months, or just over four years and four months. Assistant State Attorney Christine Poist represented the state.

Solis is not to be confused with the city of Marathon’s Public Works and Engineering director, who has the same name.

In the latest case against the convicted Solis, Key West police were called to a home on Northside Drive about the burglary of a Toyota Highlander this past April 17. The owner told police about $1,000 in cash and a pair of Costa del Mar sunglasses worth $250 were taken from the vehicle. Video surveillance from his home security system captured the suspect enter the Highlander, as well as attempt to enter “multiple” cars in the area. Police recognized Solis as the suspect due to another Solis arrest for burglary.

The video showed Solis trying to break into other autos, then enter the Highlander. After a few minutes in the sport utility vehicle, got on his bike and rode away after being “startled by something.” Solis was arrested a few days later, charged with auto burglary and felony grand theft.

On April 19, police were called to a home on South Roosevelt Boulevard after two trucks, a Toyota and a Chevrolet, were broken into the night before. Like in the other case, the auto burglaries were captured on security video. It showed the suspect enter the Chevrolet and search it, then get out, walk up the driveway and enter the Toyota. He then left after taking Costa sunglasses from the Chevrolet and Oakley sunglasses from the Toyota. Each pair was worth $250.

In the video, police recognized Solis as the suspect and went to his apartment looking for him. No one answered the door so they went back the next day. Solis’ mother answered the door and let in the police, who found Solis asleep on a bed. A hoodie the suspect wore in the auto break-ins was on a chair. Upon questioning, Solis “acknowledged that he was involved in the burglary,” arrested and taken to jail.

Solis has previously served five stints in prison for burglary and theft, most recently getting released in June 2018. He was on probation following his release and the two 2019 arrests violated terms of that probation.

The probation following prison stemmed from two previous burglary cases, one in which Solis pleaded no contest to burglary of a conveyance and grand theft for breaking into a truck on Eagle Avenue and stealing $800, lottery tickets and a towel in September 2014; and one in December 2014 in which he pleaded no contest to burglary of a conveyance and petit theft for breaking into a truck on Paula Avenue and stealing $49.22 in change and a pair of sneakers.

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