Man arrested for marine GPS thefts

A 25-year-old Homestead man was arrested Thursday for a string of vessel burglaries in Islamorada and in Miami-Dade County following a joint investigation between the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami Beach Police Department.

Carlos Leodanys Lopez is facing a litany of charges in both jurisdictions, including multiple counts of grand theft and burglary in Monroe County.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified of multiple boat burglaries in the Venetian Shores neighborhood and Coral Harbor Club in Islamorada on Thursday morning in which four vessels were burglarized and high-end GPS units were stolen, with a total value of nearly $60,000.

Detectives began investigating and placed a be-on-the-lookout for the GPS units to other law enforcement agencies. Miami Beach Police Detectives contacted Sheriff’s Office shortly thereafter stating they were investigating Lopez for multiple boat burglaries in their area and they believed he was responsible for the burglaries in Islamorada as well.

Sheriff’s Office Detective Jose Hernandez provided Miami Beach Police Detectives with additional information and Miami Beach Police Detectives arrested Lopez after observing him attempting to discard GPS units.

Lopez admitted to the GPS thefts in Islamorada and all the GPS units reported stolen at the Islamorada locations were found at Lopez’s residence and returned to their owners.

Lopez remains in jail in Miami-Dade County on charges in that area and he will eventually be prosecuted in Monroe County for his crimes here.

________________________________________________________________________

Three juveniles charged in graffiti case

Three young teens were charged with criminal mischief that caused $1,000 or more in damage after vandalizing vehicles, residences and streets on Sugarloaf Key.

A 13-year-old from Cudjoe Key, a 13-year-old from Big Pine Key and a 14-year-old from Sugarloaf Key, all male, admitted to spray painting private and public property at multiple locations on Sugarloaf Key.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified of a trespassing complaint on June 9 on Driftwood Drive involving three juveniles. One juvenile was detained at the scene on that date. Later in the day, the Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of property being vandalized in the area.

Detective Wendy Negron was assigned to investigate. Detective Negron’s investigation revealed the three juveniles involved in the trespassing case were the suspects in the graffiti case.

Once charged, all three juveniles were turned over to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

________________________________________________________________________

Man arrested in shoplifting case

A 60-year-old Marathon man was arrested Friday after shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of groceries from the Publix in Marathon.

Daniel Morin was charged with several counts of grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

The Sheriff’s Office was initially called to the Publix on Saturday after a man, later identified as Morin, was seen in security footage putting 33 bottles of high-end wine worth a total of $1,781 into a duffle bag and leaving without paying.

Detectives worked with patrol Deputies on the case.

The Sheriff’s Office was called back to the Publix Friday afternoon when a manager spotted the same suspect in the store. He called 911 and Deputy Biandrea Swire stopped him with $1,659 in merchandise he didn’t pay for.

Detective Brandon White arrived and recognized the suspect as Morin from the security video.

Morin admitted to all the thefts.

Morin was taken to jail.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]