Key Lime business burglars arrested

A tipster who saw a post on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page helped detectives arrest two men wanted for burglarizing the Key Lime Products in Key Largo in December.

Brandon George Margerelli, 28, of Boynton Beach, was charged with burglary and theft. He was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island on Wednesday.

Edward Joseph Chestnut, 24, was charged with burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools. He was arrested in Broward County on Wednesday.

The burglary took place at approximately 7:15 p.m., Dec. 18 at Key Lime Products in Key Largo. Two suspects forced their way into a storage shed, taking several small items from inside. A surveillance system captured images of the suspects.

Detective Lance Hernandez was contacted by a citizen who wished to remain anonymous who said he knew one of the suspects in the case. He identified the suspect as Margerelli after seeing surveillance photos posted on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. The tip helped widen the case for Detective Hernandez who was then able to identify Margerelli and Chestnut from body cam footage captured by Deputy Tommy Durham. Deputy Durham arrested Margerelli and the other suspect for theft on Dec. 18 at another business. Margerelli and the other suspect were wearing the same clothes in the body cam footage and in the images captured at Key Lime Products.

Warrants were issued for both men on Jan. 4. Bail for Margerelli was listed at $35,000 and Chestnut’s was $45,000

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a Crimestoppers tip leads to an arrest, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crimestoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may be made anonymously on line at www.P3tips.com/139.

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